Today(on 18th March), the Supreme Court granted bail to Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari in the arms license case, considering his period of incarceration and the alleged offenses.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 18th March), The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari, in the arms license case against him. The decision was made by a bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, who considered the duration of Ansari’s incarceration and the nature of the alleged offences.
The court stated:
“We do not propose to observe anything on merits as it would prejudice the case. Taking into account the period of incarceration and the offences alleged, the petitioner is to be enlarged on bail subject to terms and conditions as set by the trial court.”
Abbas Ansari, son of convicted criminal Mukhtar Ansari, faces controversy for allegedly acquiring firearms improperly. The case against him was initiated with a first information report (FIR) in October 2019, which detailed that Ansari allegedly transferred his gun license from Lucknow to Delhi without the requisite notification to the concerned police authorities. Furthermore, he is accused of using licenses from two different states under separate identities.
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The FIR disclosed that despite Ansari’s Lucknow gun license expiring in October 2015, he obtained a new one in New Delhi by June 2017, purchasing seven firearms afterward. In November 2023, the Allahabad High Court denied bail due to the discovery of weapons and ammunition, including “metal jacketed” bullets, at Ansari’s New Delhi residence, raising concerns about his involvement in illegal activities, given his history of eight cases.
Despite these allegations, Ansari’s legal team moved to the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s decision. During the proceedings, Ansari’s counsel argued that he has been unjustly implicated and highlighted his prolonged detention since November 2022. They contended that the case required no oral evidence and that the chargesheet had already been filed.
Te counsel representing the Uttar Pradesh government presented a different narrative, accusing Ansari of issuing threats to kill police and jail officials. This accusation prompted Justice Gavai to express concerns about the conduct of the Uttar Pradesh Police, referencing a separate incident to illustrate potential misconduct within the force.
The Supreme Court’s deliberations also touched upon the treatment of Ansari while in custody, particularly questioning the allowance of family visits to his prison cell, which raised issues regarding the prison system’s integrity and the actions of the police involved.
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The Supreme Court ruled in favor of granting bail to Abbas Ansari, a decision made possible through the diligent legal advocacy of his counsel, Anjali Jha Manish, and Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal. Representing the State of Uttar Pradesh was Additional Advocate General Garima Prashad.
