The Allahabad High Court on Monday stayed the arrest of Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha MP Afzal Ansari in connection with three separate criminal cases concerning alleged arms licence irregularities and missing official records.
A division bench comprising Justice Siddharth Varma and Justice Achal Sachdev granted the interim relief while hearing petitions filed by the Ghazipur parliamentarian. The court consolidated all three matters, allowed time for the government counsel to submit a formal response, and scheduled the next hearing after three weeks.
Background of Charges and Investigation
The criminal cases, all registered at the Kotwali police station in Ghazipur, name Ansari alongside former arms clerk Gaurishankar Lal and arms clerk Sugriv Tiwari. The three face charges including cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and provisions of the Arms Act.
According to police, an investigation uncovered procedural discrepancies in weapon transactions and an untraceable rifle purchased on Ansari’s licence. Law enforcement officials alleged that official departmental records were intentionally removed in collusion with the departmental clerks.
Petitioner’s Defence
In challenging the FIRs, Ansari highlighted the substantial time gap in the allegations, noting in his petitions that the cases were registered in July 2026 regarding official documents that went missing between 1983 and 1987.
