The Uttar Pradesh Government told the Supreme Court on Monday that the Punjab Government is defending politician Mukhtar Ansari against UP’s attempts to transfer him from Ropar Jail in Punjab to the Ghazipur Jail in Uttar Pradesh.
A two-judge bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and R. Subhash Reddy was hearing the criminal petition to move Mukhtar Ansari to Ghazipur Jail. The UP government submitted that serious charges are pending in the state against Ansari and he has been remanded in Punjab for 2 years in a “minor case”.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asked the bench how can state of Punjab support Ansari so much.
He is being vociferously defended by the state of Punjab. Punjab is supporting a terrorist, there are serious cases pending against him and the trial of the same is pending in Uttar Pradesh, he said.
The Apex Court had previously asked politician Ansari and the Punjab Government to file a reply to the Uttar Pradesh government’s plea seeking Ansari’s transfer from Ropar Jail in Punjab to the Ghazipur Jail in Uttar Pradesh.
The UP Government had argued that Ansari should be transferred to UP jail since a charge-sheet has been filed in UP. Moreover, no charge-sheet has been filed in Punjab.
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The state had further alleged that Ansari is trying to “play with the federal structure” and misusing the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The Court had directed the Punjab government to file a detailed reply on the pending case against Ansari, including the status of trial. The government had also been directed to file a report on his medical condition.
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Ansari is an accused in the murder of Krishnanand Rai and is currently lodged in Ropar Jail in Punjab. The matter would now be heard on February 24.