The Supreme Court relaxed bail conditions for UP MLA Abbas Ansari, allowing him to travel outside the State of UP while easing restrictions on residence and public statements.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today relaxed the bail conditions imposed on Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari, permitting him to travel outside the State of Uttar Pradesh under certain safeguards. The order was passed by a Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, while hearing a plea filed by Ansari seeking modification of his bail terms.
Court’s Observations and Directions
At the outset, Justice Bagchi sought clarity on whether Ansari was cooperating with the proceedings before the Trial Court. To this, Advocate Nizam Pasha, appearing for Ansari, clarified that his client had always complied, except in instances where exemption from personal appearance had been duly granted by the Trial Court.
On behalf of the Union, ASG K.M. Nataraj submitted that two witnesses had already been examined and the trial was ongoing, suggesting that the matter could be disposed of since Ansari was already on interim bail.
Justice Surya Kant, however, emphasized that Ansari must remain present during trial proceedings unless the Trial Court grants an exemption.
One of the key bail restrictions imposed earlier was that Ansari could not leave the State of Uttar Pradesh. Advocate Pasha urged the Court to relax this condition, pointing out that Ansari’s father-in-law was critically ill and in ICU at Jaipur, but he was unable to visit due to the bail restrictions.
Justice Kant initially suggested that Ansari could approach the Trial Court for such permissions, but Pasha highlighted the impracticality of seeking permission from multiple Trial Courts since several FIRs were pending against him. Taking this into account, the Bench relaxed the restriction:
“The Petitioner is allowed to travel outside the State of UP, provided that he shall furnish the particulars of place of visit to the Trial Court, along with contact number to the Investigating Officer and shall further ensure that the trial proceedings are not hampered or delayed.”
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, also appearing for Ansari, requested the Bench to further modify two other bail conditions:
- Restriction on Public Statements: The earlier condition barred Ansari from making public statements. Justice Kant clarified that Ansari is free to make public remarks on general issues like the economy or employment, but must refrain from commenting on matters sub judice. This was aimed at protecting ongoing trials from undue social media influence.
- Restriction on Residence: Ansari had been directed to stay only at his allotted official accommodation in Lucknow. Pasha informed the Court that due to the size of his family, Ansari wished to rent a private residence. The Supreme Court accepted this request, allowing him to shift, but directed that his change of address must be intimated to the local police.
Background of the Case
The bail proceedings of Abbas Ansari have been under judicial scrutiny for over a year. In May 2024, the Allahabad High Court had rejected his bail plea, observing that his explanation regarding the source of funds lacked credibility and citing his family background and past evasive conduct.
In January 2025, the Supreme Court also expressed concern over the Allahabad High Court’s delay in addressing one of Ansari’s pending petitions. That matter related to an ongoing property dispute where construction continued despite his plea for interim relief.
Earlier, in April 2024, the Supreme Court had granted Ansari temporary permission to attend the fatiha (special prayers) following the demise of his father, Mukhtar Ansari, a controversial figure in Uttar Pradesh politics who passed away due to cardiac arrest on March 28, 2024.
Case Title:
Abbas Ansari v. State of Uttar Pradesh
SLP(Crl) No. 1091/2025
Read Order: