Relief for Abbas Ansari in hate speech case: Allahabad HC quashes ex-MLA's conviction; restores assembly membership

NEW DELHI: The Allahabad high court on Wednesday overturned the conviction of Abbas Ansari, son of Mukhtar Ansari, in a 2022 hate speech case. As per news agency ANI, justice Samir Jain set aside the earlier order of a special MP/MLA court that had sentenced Abbas to two years’ rigorous imprisonment.Abbas Ansari, the then MLA from Mau Sadar representing the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, was initially convicted by the special court in Mau on May 31, 2023. He had been found guilty under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups), 189 (threat to public servant), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 171F (undue influence during elections) of the Indian Penal Code, and was also fined Rs 2,000.Following the conviction, Abbas moved the appellate court, which dismissed his challenge on July 5.

Subsequently, he approached the Allahabad high court, which granted him relief by quashing the conviction.Abbas’ election agent, Mansoor Ansari, who was present on stage during the speech, had also been convicted in the case and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.The controversy arose from a speech Abbas delivered during the 2022 assembly election campaign, where he allegedly warned government officials about the consequences if the Samajwadi Party came to power.

“I have told Akhilesh bhaiya (former CM Akhilesh Yadav) that after formation of the government, there will be no transfer or postings of bureaucrats for six months. First there will be hisab-kitab (scores to be settled), only then will transfer take place,” he was reported to have said.Abbas Ansari went on to win the 2022 assembly election from the Mau constituency with a margin of over 38,000 votes.(With agency inputs)