Don Mukhtar Ansari named in 6-year-old murder case
Arun Sharma
Tribune News Service
Ropar, March 7
In what appears to be another attempt to keep gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in Punjab, the Ropar police have named him in a six-year-old case of a labourer’s murder.
Though Ropar SSP Akhil Chaudhary said Ansari was named in the case long ago on the statement of the complainant, Vidya Rani, on June 27, 2019, the latter said she didn’t know anything about Mukhtar Ansari.
Vidya Rani, sister of the deceased, said her brother was a labourer and had no enmity with anyone. “What could be his relation with a big gangster or politicians?” she said.
Ansari, facing several criminal cases in Uttar Pradesh, is in a Ropar jail after he was arrested and brought from Uttar Pradesh by the Punjab Police in a case of extortion and intimidation registered in January 2019 at the Mataur police station in Mohali on the complaint of a businessman. The Uttar Pradesh Police teams seeking custody of Ansari on production warrants have been returned multiple times by the Ropar jail authorities on medical grounds.
Three days ago, the Opposition had raised the issue during the Budget session in the Punjab Assembly alleging the state government was shielding Ansari.
The Ropar SSP said on June 27, 2019, Vidya Rani recorded a statement apprehending that Mukhtar Ansari was behind the murder of her brother following which the name of Ansari was included in the FIR. The Ropar police also tried to get his custody several times for questioning in the case but the jail authorities refused to hand him over on medical grounds, he said.
When contacted at her home in Morinda, Vidya Devi said her brother, a tempo driver at Rampur near Moradabad, came to Morinda a few years ago after the death of his wife. He was staying in an accommodation provided by his employer.
About the police claims she said, “Neither I know about Mukhtar Ansari nor I recorded any such statement with the police.”
No cops contacted her after death of her brother and it was only a month ago when she was called at the Morinda police station thrice to discuss the progress in the case, she claimed, adding that the cops, instead of telling her anything, were only interested to know whether she had any clue about the accused.
Later, a policeman visited her home and got her signatures on some papers on the pretext of investigation in the case, she claimed.
The Ropar SSP, however, claimed her statement regarding the involvement of Ansari was a matter of record and there were chances that she was influenced by someone in the case.
Victim’s kin: not aware of suspect
Vidya Rani, sister of the deceased, said her brother was a labourer and had no enmity with anyone. “What could be his relation with a big gangster or politicians?” she said. About the police claims, she said, “Neither do I know about Mukhtar Ansari nor have I recorded any statement with the police.”
Statement on record: Police
Ropar SSP Akhil Chaudhary said on June 27, 2019, Vidya Rani recorded a statement apprehending that Mukhtar Ansari was behind the murder of her brother following which name of Ansari was included in the FIR. The police also tried to get his custody for questioning but the jail authorities refused to hand him over on medical grounds, he said.
