Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Oct 13: In light of Mukhtar Ansari’s plea contesting the Allahabad High Court’s ruling that convicted him under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday.
Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M. Trivedi’s bench asked the Uttar Pradesh government for a response to Ansari’s argument.
Ansari has contested the decision of the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow judicature, dated September 23, 2022, in which the High Court reversed the ruling of the trial court.
The High Court found Ansari guilty under Section 2/3 of the Gangsters Act and sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment. This decision by the High Court overturns the trial court’s previous acquittal in the case. The High Court’s ruling was a response to the Uttar Pradesh government’s appeal against the judgment of the trial court.
On December 23, 2020, a Lucknow Court acquitted Ansari of the charges under Section 2/3 of The Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. This case against Ansari was registered at Hazratganj Police Station in the Lucknow district.
A charge sheet was filed against Ansari and 24 other co-accused in this case. The prosecution contended that Ansari and the co-accused were part of a criminal gang engaged in serious offences, such as murder, extortion, abduction, and kidnapping, among others.