Allahabad High Court sets aside Afzal Ansari's conviction, he can continue as MP

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party MP from Ghazipur Afzal Ansari got relief on Monday from the Allahabad High Court which set aside a Ghazipur court order sentencing him to four years' imprisonment under the Gangsters Act over the murder of BJP's former MLA Krishnanand Rai in 2005.

With Justice S K Singh allowing his plea against the conviction, Ansari can now continue as an MP.


The plea by the UP government and late Krishnanand Rai's son Piyush Kumar Rai for enhancement of the Ghazipur MP's sentence was also dismissed by the high court.

On April 29, 2023, Ansari was convicted by an MP-MLA court in the Gangsters Act. Besides sentencing him to four years' imprisonment, the court had also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on Ansari in the same case.

After being convicted, Ansari was disqualified as an MP, following which he filed a criminal appeal before the HC. Although he was granted bail on July 24, 2023, the high court had declined to stay his conviction in the case. Though Ansari was released from jail, his membership of Parliament was not restored. Later, he moved the Supreme Court which stayed his conviction. His Parliament membership was restored, and he also became eligible to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The top court had directed the high court to expedite the hearing of his appeal. The high court's judgement was reserved on July 4 this year.