Mukhtar Ansari gets life imprisonment in 1991 Avdhesh Rai murder case

An MP/MLA court in Varanasi on Monday gave life imprisonment to the jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari for the murder of Avdhesh Rai in 1991. The Court also fined a penalty of one lakh rupees on the five-time MLA Mukhtar Ansari.

On the 3rd of August, 1991, Congress leader and brother of former MLA Ajay Rai, Awadhesh Rai, was shot dead outside Ajay Rai’s house in the Lahurabeer area of Varanasi. Mukhtar Ansari was not an MLA when he committed the crime.

The Varanasi MP MLA court concluded the hearing after arguments on the 19th of  May reserved its order, and convicted the



Mafia-turned-politician yesterday morning. Security was tightened at the Court complex ahead of the verdict. Mr Rai had named Mukhtar Ansari, Bhim Singh, and former MLA Abdul Kalim, in the FIR. Ansari has also been convicted in several criminal cases in the past.

Earlier in April, a Ghaziapur court convicted Ansari and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment in an Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act case lodged at Mohammadabad police station in Ghazipur district in 2007. This is the fourth case in which Ansari, who is lodged at Banda district jail, has been convicted.