LUCKNOW
Uttar Pradesh BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari, the don-turned politician, suffered a heart attack on Tuesday morning when his wife, Afsa Ansari, arrived to meet him in Banda jail where he is incarcerated.
Jailed BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari, lodged in Banda prison in connection with various criminal cases, today suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the district hospital in Banda.
As per media reports, Mukhtar complained of pain in his chest while talking to his wife, who also suffered the attack on seeing Ansari suffering. Mukhtar is reported to have other medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension as well. Ansari — a five-time MLA from Mau — was reportedly unwell for several days.
The couple was taken to district hospital at Banda in serious condition. Ansari was later taken to Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Hospital in Lucknow. State Principal Secretary Home, Arvind Kumar, said he had asked for a joint report from the Banda District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police about Ansari’s condition, adding that he would be provided with the “best possible medical care”.
About media reports that Ansari’s wife too suffered a heart attack, Kumar said he cannot confirm it immediately.
“I can confirm it only after I get a report from there,” he said, adding that directives have been issued to provide best possible treatment to the legislator.
The gangster-turned-legislator from Mau constituency has been in various jails in the state since 2015 under various sections of the IPC.
Mukhtar Ansari has been in prison since 2006 and has been in Banda jail for the past eight months. After Yogi Adiyanath government came to power in 2017, Ansari was shifted first to Unnao Jail and then to Banda jail from Lucknow. Notably, he has been elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly from the Mau constituency a record five times.