By Rajesh Pandey
In a significant legal development, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday stayed the conviction of Abbas Ansari, son of late mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, in a 2022 hate speech case.
The ruling comes as a major relief for the young politician, who had lost his Uttar Pradesh Assembly membership following his conviction earlier this year.
Background of the Case
Abbas Ansari, who won the 2022 Assembly elections from the Mau Sadar seat on a Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) ticket, was convicted on May 31, 2025, by a special MP-MLA court in Mau.
The court held him guilty of making a provocative election speech during the 2022 UP polls, where he allegedly threatened bureaucrats and government officials with dire consequences if the Samajwadi Party (SP) came to power.
During that controversial address, Abbas was quoted as saying: I have told Akhilesh bhaiya [SP chief Akhilesh Yadav] that after formation of the government, there will be no transfer or postings of bureaucrats for six months.
Everyone will remain where they are. First, there will be hisab-kitab [scores to be settled], only then will the transfer take place.”
The remarks, made during the heated election campaign, drew strong criticism and eventually led to multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Conviction by Special Court
On May 31, 2025, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of the MP-MLA court in Mau sentenced Abbas Ansari to:
- Two years’ imprisonment each under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity among groups) and 189 (threat of injury to a public servant) of the IPC.
- One year under Section 506 (criminal intimidation).
- Six months under Section 171-F (undue influence or personation at an election).
All sentences were ordered to run simultaneously, and Abbas was also fined ₹2,000.
His election agent, Mansoor Ansari, who was present on stage during the speech, was also convicted and sentenced to six months in jail.
Following the conviction, Abbas’s appeal was rejected by the Mau appellate court on July 5, 2025, and he immediately lost his membership of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
Move to the High Court
Challenging the appellate court’s decision, Abbas Ansari approached the Allahabad High Court through a criminal revision petition.
His counsel, Upendra Upadhyay, argued that the stay of conviction was crucial for Abbas not only to protect his political career but also to restore his Assembly membership.
Justice Sameer Jain, after hearing arguments, stayed the conviction order of the lower court.
This means that until the appeal is finally decided, Abbas’s disqualification as MLA is likely to be reversed, restoring his status as a legislator.
Political Implications
Abbas Ansari had won the Mau seat in 2022 with a margin of over 38,000 votes, riding on his family’s strong influence in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
His father, the late Mukhtar Ansari, was a powerful and controversial figure in state politics, with a long history of both criminal cases and electoral victories.
The stay on Abbas’s conviction is expected to have major political implications, especially in the Purvanchal region, where the Ansari family still commands significant clout.
The Road Ahead
While the stay on conviction offers temporary relief, the appeal against his conviction is still pending before the Additional Sessions Judge, MP-MLA court in Mau. The outcome of that appeal will determine Abbas’s long-term political future.
For now, however, the High Court’s order has breathed fresh life into his career and allowed him to return to the state legislature.
Key Charges Against Abbas Ansari
- Section 153-A IPC – Promoting enmity among groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, or language.
- Section 189 IPC – Threat of injury to a public servant.
- Section 506 IPC – Criminal intimidation.
- Section 171-F IPC – Undue influence or personation at elections.
- Section 186 IPC – Obstructing a public servant in discharge of duties.
- Section 120-B IPC – Criminal conspiracy
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