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The Supreme Court of India has dismissed the bail plea of Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari in a case registered under the state's Gangsters Act. However, the court granted him the liberty to approach the Allahabad High Court for bail, with a request that the High Court expedite the process and reach a decision within four weeks of the filing of the application.
The decision was made after hearing arguments from Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Ansari, who expressed concerns about the circumstances of Ansari's incarceration, including alleged administration of substances in jail. Sibal cited the death of Ansari's father, Mukhtar Ansari, under suspicious circumstances while in judicial custody, as a source of apprehension for his client's safety.
The Supreme Court, while acknowledging Sibal's concerns, ultimately decided to refer the bail plea to the High Court for a prompt decision. The court directed the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court to bring the Supreme Court's order to the attention of the Chief Justice, ensuring that the bail application is prioritized and heard by an appropriate bench within the stipulated timeframe. The court also granted Ansari the right to approach the Supreme Court again if there are unforeseen delays in the High Court's proceedings.
The case stemmed from an FIR registered against Ansari on August 31, 2024, under Sections 2 and 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangster and Anti-Social (Prevention) Act, 1986. Sibal argued that this FIR, as well as a previous case involving allegations of illegal meetings with Ansari's wife, which was quashed by the Allahabad High Court in May 2024, were fabricated with the intention of keeping Ansari behind bars indefinitely.
The Supreme Court's decision to refer the bail plea to the High Court, while expressing concerns about Ansari's safety, highlights the complexities of the case and the ongoing legal battles surrounding the allegations against the UP MLA. The High Court is now tasked with making a prompt determination on Ansari's bail application, with the Supreme Court prepared to intervene if necessary to ensure a fair and timely resolution.