MLA Abbas Ansari gets two-year jail term for hate speech during UP polls

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

Lucknow, May 31: Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) MLA Abbas Ansari has been convicted by a court in a hate speech case and sentenced to two years in prison. Additionally, he has been fined ₹3,000.

Co-accused Mansoor Ansari was sentenced to six months imprisonment along with a ₹1,000 fine. The verdict was delivered by Chief Judicial Magistrate K.P. Singh at the MP-MLA Court in Mau district.

Abbas Ansari, the son of former MP and gangster turned politician Mukhtar Ansari, is currently the MLA from Mau Sadar seat. He was accused of delivering a provocative speech during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

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According to reports, on March 3, 2022, while addressing a public rally at Pahadpur ground in Mau, Abbas Ansari had threatened that once the Samajwadi Party (SP) government came to power, no administrative officer in the district would be transferred. Instead, he said, all would remain in place and be “taught a lesson,” implying that their conduct would be “settled” post-elections. The remarks triggered widespread condemnation.

The speech sparked widespread criticism, and a case was filed against him by then sub-inspector Gangaram Bind at Mau Kotwali police station.

Abbas Ansari was booked under six sections of the Indian Penal Code. These included Section 506 for criminal intimidation, Section 171F for exerting undue influence during elections, Section 186 for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of official duties, and Section 189 for threatening a public servant. He was also charged under Section 153A for promoting enmity between different groups and Section 120B for criminal conspiracy.