UP: Govt orders judicial probe into Mukhtar's death, seeks report in one month

Banda (UP), Mar 29 A judicial inquiry has been ordered by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Banda district in the death of mafia-turned-politician and former MLA Mukhtar Ansari on Friday, official sources said here.

Sources said that the inquiry was ordered by CJM Bhagwan Das Gupta on a letter sent by the Senior Superintendent of Banda district jail requesting to appoint an inquiry officer.

"The CJM has appointed Additional CJM (MP-MLA court) Garima as the inquiry officer," they said.

Sources said that the inquiry officer has been asked to complete the probe and submit the report within a month.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Durga Shakti Nagpal has also ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. "While appointing Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Rajesh Kumar as the inquiry officer, she has asked him to submit his detailed report within a fortnight," they said.

It may be noted that Mukhtar (63), who was lodged in Banda district jail, was taken to RD Medical College on Thursday night after his health deteriorated. Mukhtar died due to cardiac arrest during treatment.

So far, convicted in eight cases, the five time MLA had 65 cases lodged against him. After Mukhtar's death, his family alleged foul play.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) president have demanded a high-level probe into the death of mafia-turned-politician and former MLA Mukhtar Ansari.