UP MLA Abbas Ansari sentenced to two-year jail in hate speech case

A special MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday sentenced Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) MLA Abbas Ansari to two years' imprisonment in connection with a 2022 hate speech case.

 

Abbas Ansari, son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, represented the Mau Sadar seat in the Assembly. In the wake of his conviction, the legislator could face disqualification.

 

As per the Representation of the People Act, a sentence of two years or more can lead to disqualification from holding public office.

 

Ansari's legal counsel, Advocate Daroga Singh, expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict and said that they will approach the higher court against the verdict. 

 

“While the trial was established, there was a sentence of only six months. Later, after discussing this with the police, it was increased to several sections, and now he has been sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment... We will file an appeal against the order,” he said.

 

The case pertains to a provocative speech Ansari had made against the Mau district administration during the last assembly elections when the model code of conduct was in place.

 

Ansari threatened the Mau administration during a public meeting at Paharpur ground on March 3, 2022, saying he will "settle scores and teach them a lesson" after the elections.

 

The legislator was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 189 (threat to cause harm to public servant), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, caste, place of birth, residence and language and spoiling the harmony), 171F (undue influence in election) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

 

Special MP/MLA court Judge K.P. Singh sentenced Ansari to two years each under sections 189 and 153-A, one year under section 506 and six months imprisonment under section 171-F. All the sentences will run simultaneously. 

 

Abbas Ansari’s close aide, Mansoor Ansari, was also sentenced to six months jail term. The court, however, acquitted Abbas Ansari's younger brother Umar Ansari in the same case.

 

SBSP was earlier part of the Samajwadi Party-led alliance. The party is currently an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government, and the party president is a cabinet minister in the state.

India