ED arrests U.P. gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in money laundering case

The agency has also got issued a look out circular against Mukhtar Ansari's wife Afsan Ansari as she has not deposed before it after issuance of summons

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in a money laundering case after he was produced before a court in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

Ansari, a five-time former MLA, has been lodged in a jail at Banda in Uttar Pradesh for the last few years in connection with criminal cases being probed by the State police.

 The 59-year-old was questioned by the ED in this case last year.

Ansari was taken into custody by the ED under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after he was produced on Wednesday before a local court in Prayagraj on the basis of a production warrant moved by the agency, according to official sources.

Ansari’s MLA son Abbas Ansari was also arrested by the federal probe agency in November after questioning at its sub zonal office in Prayagraj. This was followed by the arrest of Mukhtar Ansari’s brother-in-law Atif Raza.

The agency has also got issued a look out circular against Mukhtar Ansari's wife Afsan Ansari as she has not deposed before it after issuance of summons.

The money laundering case against Mukhtar Ansari stems from multiple FIRs lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police apart from two more FIRs lodged against a company called Vikas Constructions (a partnership firm) that was run by his wife, two brother-in-laws (including Atif Raza) and others.