The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of a bail plea filed by Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Abbas Ansari, pertaining to an arms license case in Uttar Pradesh. The bench comprising Justices BR Gavai, Sanjay Karol, and Sandeep Mehta issued a notice to the state after hearing Ansari's counsel, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal.

The legal saga began when the Allahabad High Court denied bail to Abbas Ansari in November 2023, prompting him to appeal to the apex court. The High Court's decision was based on the recovery of substantial quantities of arms and ammunition from Ansari's residence in New Delhi. Notably, the recovery included "metal jacketed" bullets, which are not permitted for use by licensed firearm owners.

The High Court, in its ruling, expressed concern over Ansari's potential influence as an MLA, citing the possibility of him tampering with witnesses. Abbas Ansari, the elder son of incarcerated gangster and former legislator Mukhtar Ansari, has been embroiled in a case involving the acquisition of multiple firearms on a specific license.

The allegations against Ansari include the unauthorized transfer of his license from Lucknow to Delhi without informing the relevant authorities. It is claimed that he continued to use licenses from two different states under distinct identity cards. The FIR lodged against him in October 2019 further asserted that after his Lucknow gun license became invalid in October 2015, he obtained a new license in New Delhi in June 2017, subsequently purchasing a total of seven firearms.

The High Court, while rejecting Ansari's bail plea, strongly condemned the alleged conduct, deeming it entirely unacceptable. It highlighted Ansari's criminal history, citing his involvement in eight cases. One particular case alleged that, while incarcerated, Ansari misused his influence to facilitate his wife's frequent visits to the jail without seeking proper permissions or undergoing necessary security checks.