The demise of former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Mukhtar Ansari has stirred up a legal inquiry in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. Ansari passed away at the Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest. Now, a Banda court has taken action, directing an additional chief judicial magistrate (CJM) to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death and submit a report within one month, as per PTI reports.

Ansari's health took a critical turn while he was lodged in the district jail in Banda, where he had been held following his conviction in various criminal cases. He was rushed to the hospital after losing consciousness at around 8:45 PM. This incident comes in the wake of his recent sentencing to life imprisonment by a special court in Varanasi on March 13, in connection with a fake arms license case.

The late Ansari's legal history is marked by multiple convictions, including cases of kidnapping, involvement in criminal activities under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act, as well as charges related to murder and intimidation. Notably, he was convicted for the 1991 murder of Awadhesh Rai, the brother of a Congress leader, and for threatening a jailer with a pistol in 2003.

The circumstances leading up to Ansari's demise have raised questions, especially in light of a letter purportedly penned by Ansari himself. Dated March 21, the letter was addressed to the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Mau and alleged that Ansari was being poisoned by the jail authorities in Banda.

The directive from the Banda court underscores the gravity of the situation, indicating a thorough investigation into the events surrounding Ansari's death.