“Complete Ongoing Investigation & Submit Report In 10 Days”: Supreme Court On MLA Abbas Ansari’s Bail Plea In Gangster Act Case

The Supreme Court today heard a petition filed by Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari seeking bail in a criminal case registered under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986.

The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh directed the Investigating Officer (IO) to complete the ongoing investigation and submit a status report within 10 days.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Ansari, argued that his client has been in custody for five months without being taken on remand, and there has been no active investigation. “The man is in Kasganj jail, 450 km away from Chitrakoot. They can continue to say that so I am kept in custody, but the fact remains that no investigation has been conducted,” Sibal submitted.

In response, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj, representing the State of Uttar Pradesh, informed the Court that four accused in the case were still absconding and about ten cases were pending against Ansari.

However, Sibal countered that Ansari had already been granted bail in all these cases.

The Bench noted the State’s argument that public safety was a concern and questioned the status of the investigation.

Sibal stated that the FIR alleged that Ansari was labeled a gangster based on statements from individuals encountered during the probe. "FIR says they went in a Jeep and found some people who told them he is a gangster," he submitted.

Following submissions, the Court directed the IO to expedite the investigation and file a status report within ten days.

Seeking urgent relief, Sibal urged the Court to consider releasing Ansari on bail before Ramzan, which begins on March 1. However, no immediate relief was granted.

The case will be reviewed after the status report is submitted.

In a related news, the Supreme Court, in January 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]