Allahabad High Court Adjourns Hearing in Abbas Ansari’s Hate Speech Conviction Appeal to July 30

By Rajesh Pandey

Prayagraj, July 23: The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday postponed the hearing of a criminal revision petition filed by Abbas Ansari, the son of incarcerated gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, challenging his conviction in a 2022 hate speech case.

The matter will now be taken up on July 30, following a request from the state for additional preparation time.

The adjournment came during proceedings before Justice Sameer Jain, who acknowledged the submission made by Additional Advocate General (AAG) M.C. Chaturvedi, appearing on behalf of the state government. The AAG sought more time to review the case files thoroughly and prepare a detailed response.

In its brief one-page order, the Court noted,

“At the very outset, the Additional Advocate General submitted that for proper assistance, some time may be given to him to prepare the case properly.”

Abbas Ansari, a former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing the Mau Assembly constituency on a ticket from the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), was convicted by the MP-MLA court in Mau on May 31, 2024.

He was held guilty under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc.) and 189 (threatening a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The charges stem from a provocative speech delivered during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election campaign in Mau district. According to court findings, Abbas Ansari made inflammatory remarks that incited tensions and issued veiled threats against administrative officers.

His brother was also reportedly present and allegedly amplified those threats during the rally.

The MP-MLA court sentenced Abbas Ansari to two years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹2,000. His election agent, Mansoor Ansari, who was on stage during the rally, was also convicted and handed a six-month jail term.

Following his conviction, Abbas Ansari was automatically disqualified as an MLA, in accordance with provisions under the Representation of the People Act, which bars convicted legislators from holding office if sentenced to two years or more.

The Mau Assembly seat has since been declared vacant, triggering a potential by-election shortly.

The case has drawn significant public and political attention due to the involvement of the Ansari family, which has had a long and controversial presence in Uttar Pradesh politics.

Abbas Ansari, a professional shooter-turned-politician, was seen as the political heir to his father Mukhtar Ansari, who has been behind bars for various criminal charges, including murder and extortion.

As the matter heads back to the courtroom on July 30, legal experts are closely watching the outcome of this revision petition, which could have broader implications for political accountability and the enforcement of hate speech laws during election campaigns.

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