IN A major setback for Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) MLA, Abbas Ansari, son of dead mafia don Mukhtar Ansari, a Mau court convicted him in a hate speech case and sentenced him to two years in prison. The verdict was pronounced by Chief Judicial Magistrate Dr K.P. Singh in the MP-MLA court at the District and Sessions Court, Mau where Abbas Ansari was produced under tight security. The case pertains to a speech delivered by Abbas during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. He had allegedly made provocative remarks at a public meeting, warning Government officials that they would be “taken to account” once his party came to power.

 

“I have told the Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav, that after the formation of the Government, there will be no transfers or postings for six months. Everyone will remain where they are. First, there will be ‘Hisab-Kitab’, only then will transfers take place,” he had said. The statement was deemed threatening and inflammatory, prompting the Election Commission to impose a ban on his campaigning at the time. His speech went viral on social media. Following this, a case was registered against him at Kotwali Nagar police station in 2022. During the trial, six witnesses deposed before the court.