Breaking: Supreme Court Grants 6 Weeks Interim Bail To Abbas Ansari With Restriction On Movement
|After six weeks, the Supreme Court has sought a status report on Abbas Ansari's conduct and is likely to review his bail.
The Supreme Court today granted interim bail to Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari in a case registered under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, imposing strict conditions on his movement and public statements.
The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh noted that while Ansari is facing multiple cases, he has been granted bail in all except the present one.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Ansari, argued that the allegations were identical to those in an earlier FIR that was quashed for non-application of mind and that the police had already collected all evidence.
"I have been inside jail due to one reason or another...earlier FIR said the same thing; it was quashed for non-application of mind. Exactly the same allegations...All the cases, they have filed. I have got bail. This is the last one... What does the status report say? They have collected all the evidence; I am inside for this case in 7 months... I am operating a gang in my jail in Kasgang, 450 km away... This is unfair to deal with people like this," Sibal contended.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K.M. Nataraj, representing the State of Uttar Pradesh, opposed the bail plea, citing Ansari’s criminal history and influence, arguing that he could threaten witnesses.
"Please see his conduct and in how many cases he is accused. I am not disagreeing that he has not got bail; but see his conduct inside and outside the jail. He is such an influential person; he can threaten any person. We want to examine one or two key witnesses. Also, what has been quashed earlier was on technical ground... He is a threat to society; at least let us examine one or two witnesses," the ASG submitted.
However, the Bench noted that the witnesses yet to be examined were police officers, not private witnesses, and questioned how long the prosecution intended to keep Ansari in jail.
After deliberation, the Court ordered interim bail with the following conditions:
1. Ansari must stay at his official accommodation in Lucknow.
2. He can visit his constituency only with prior permission from the district police administration and district court.
3. He cannot leave Uttar Pradesh without approval from the special trial court.
4. He must not make public statements on sub judice matters.
5. He must furnish a bail bond to the satisfaction of the Sessions Court, Chitrakoot.
6. He must appear before the trial court in this or any other case and inform authorities one day in advance.
The Court directed the police authorities to submit a status report on Ansari’s conduct in six weeks, after which the matter will be reviewed.
Previously
Pertinently, on February 21, the Supreme Court had directed the Investigating Officer (IO) to complete the ongoing investigation and submit a status report within 10 days.
In a related news, the Supreme Court, in January had expressed concerns over the Allahabad High Court's delay in addressing a petition filed by Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari, alleging non-compliance with the Court’s directive to prioritize his case. The matter pertains to a disputed property where construction activities are ongoing despite the petitioner seeking interim relief.
It is also to be noted that the Allahabad High Court on May 9, 2024, rejected Abbas Ansari’s bail application, stating that the explanation regarding funds did not “reflect credibility, especially from the applicant who is a sitting MLA and an elected representative of the people.” The Bench had considered the ‘family antecedents’ of the sitting MLA, including statements in the ECIR suggesting initial non-cooperation and evasion of summons until apprehended due to a lookout notice. During custody, Ansari claimed that he did not know where the alleged funds were coming from and simply stated that his family would arrange the funds whenever he needed them.
Earlier, in April 2024, the Apex Court had allowed a plea filed by MLA Abbas Ansari, currently in jail, seeking permission to attend a 'fatiha' or special prayers scheduled for April 10 following the demise of his father, Mukhtar Ansari, the gangster-turned-politician. Mukhtar Ansari passed away due to cardiac arrest at a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on March 28. Abbas Ansari, who is in judicial custody in connection with a criminal case, had approached the Apex Court seeking permission to participate in his father's 'fatiha'.
Cause Title: Abbas Ansari v. State of Uttar Pradesh [SLP(Crl) No. 1091/2025; Diary No. 1426/2025]