The Allahabad High Court has adjourned the hearing of a criminal appeal by Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari to May 27. Ansari is challenging his four-year sentence under the Gangsters Act, handed down by a trial court, related to his alleged involvement in the 2005 killing of BJP MLA Krishna Nand Rai.
Ansari, a Samajwadi Party candidate, is contesting the upcoming elections for the Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat. The outcome of this appeal is critical as an unfavorable decision from the high court could disqualify him from the election, scheduled for June 1.
The defense and the prosecution have concluded their arguments. On the next scheduled date, Ansari’s legal team is set to submit their rejoinder.
Previously, a special MP-MLA court in Ghazipur disqualified Ansari as an MP on April 29, 2023, after convicting and sentencing him. However, on July 24, 2023, although the high court granted him bail, it did not stay his conviction, meaning he remained disqualified from Parliament and from contesting elections since the sentence exceeded two years.
In a turn of events, the Supreme Court intervened, staying Ansari’s conviction, thereby restoring his Parliament membership and his eligibility to contest in the Lok Sabha elections. The apex court also ordered an expedited hearing of his appeal, to be concluded by June 30.
