"In a significant verdict, a Varanasi Court has sentenced former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Mukhtar Ansari to life imprisonment for the murder of Awadhesh Rai, the brother of a prominent Congress leader. Special Judge Avanish Gautam of the MP-MLA court handed down the life sentence, holding Ansari responsible for the fatal shooting that occurred in August 1991 in Varanasi."

According to reports, the incident took place in the early hours when Ajay Rai, a former MLA, and his brother were standing near the gate of their residence. Ansari, along with other assailants, arrived at the scene in a car and opened fire, tragically taking Awadhesh's life. Despite immediate medical attention at a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Mukhtar Ansari, currently in Banda jail, has been embroiled in several criminal cases. Following the recent killings of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, the Allahabad High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to provide Ansari with comprehensive security.

In April this year, Ansari faced conviction in a separate kidnapping and murder case by a Ghazipur Court. The special MP/MLA court imposed a 10-year prison sentence on the former lawmaker, accompanied by a fine of ₹5 lakh. The trial concluded under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act on April 1.

Over the years, Ansari has been implicated in various criminal activities, including the kidnapping of Vishwa Hindu Parishad office-bearer and coal tycoon Nandkishore Rungta in 1996, as well as the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Krishnanand Rai in 2005.

Last year, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court sentenced Ansari to seven years' imprisonment for intimidating a jailer in 2003. The court highlighted Ansari's threatening behavior towards the complainant jailer, who was simply performing his public duty.

Moreover, Ansari was also recently sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹50,000 under the Gangsters Act in connection with a First Information Report (FIR) lodged against him in 1999. The FIR implicated Ansari and his gang in heinous crimes such as murder, extortion, kidnapping, and abduction.

The recent verdict adds to Ansari's legal predicaments, showcasing the continued pursuit of justice in the face of grave criminal allegations.