Lucknow : Umar Ansari, the younger son of incarcerated politician Mukhtar Ansari, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police in Lucknow earlier today. The arrest comes at a time when the Ansari family is engaged in a legal battle over the return of properties seized by the state government under various laws, including the Gangsters Act, reported the Hindu.
According to sources, Umar Ansari’s detention occurred shortly after the family approached constitutional courts seeking the restoration of their confiscated assets. His mother, Afshan Ansari, along with Umar, had recently filed a petition claiming the properties were lawfully acquired and that due process had been denied to them.
However, instead of evaluating the merits of the petition, government authorities reportedly questioned the authenticity of the documents submitted. They alleged that the signatures on the petition and supporting papers appeared suspicious.
Legal analysts have raised concerns over this procedural response, suggesting that questioning signatures without concrete forensic backing may be a stalling tactic often used in politically sensitive cases. A retired High Court lawyer commented, “Such objections are frequently used to delay proceedings in cases involving powerful or controversial figures.”
The arrest is being widely viewed as part of an ongoing crackdown on the Ansari family by the Yogi Adityanath-led state administration, which has seized multiple properties allegedly linked to Mukhtar Ansari and labeled them as illegally obtained.
This incident follows the earlier arrest of Umar’s elder brother, Abbas Ansari, a sitting MLA from Mau Sadar, who was taken into custody earlier this year in connection with a money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate.
The family maintains that the legal actions against them are politically driven and intended to suppress opposition voices in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where Mukhtar Ansari has historically held significant influence.
Several political leaders and civil rights activists have condemned the arrest of Umar Ansari, accusing the state of using legal machinery for political vendetta. Meanwhile, officials continue to defend their actions, asserting they are in line with the law and a part of the government’s “zero tolerance” policy against organized crime.
As of now, the specific charges against Umar Ansari have not been disclosed, and the police are yet to issue an official statement. The family’s legal team is expected to challenge the arrest and press for a fair judicial review.
