The Supreme Court has dismissed Umar Ansari’s 2023 plea to transfer his father, gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, to another jail after his custodial death in March 2024. Allegations of poisoning and lack of medical care have intensified scrutiny over the case.

Supreme Court Dismisses Umar Ansari’s Plea After Mukhtar Ansari’s Custodial Death

Umar Ansari’s 2023 Plea for Jail Transfer Dismissed

Umar Ansari, son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, filed a writ petition in 2023 seeking his father’s transfer to a jail outside Uttar Pradesh, citing custodial threats. The Supreme Court of India dismissed the plea on April 30, 2025, after confirming that Mukhtar had died in custody on March 28, 2024, reportedly from a heart attack.

Background – Mukhtar Ansari’s Criminal History and Jail Transfer

Mukhtar Ansari was accused in several criminal cases, including the murder of BJP leader Krishnanand Rai. In 2021, the Uttar Pradesh government petitioned the Supreme Court to transfer him from a jail in Punjab to one in UP, which was granted.

In January 2025, the Court directed UP authorities to provide medical and inquiry reports regarding his death to Umar Ansari.

Allegations of Poisoning and Medical Negligence

In July 2024, Umar alleged that Mukhtar was poisoned in custody and died due to lack of adequate medical care.

During the April 30, 2025 hearing, Advocate Nizam Pasha argued before Justices M. M. Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal that the plea was not infructuous despite Mukhtar’s death. He claimed Umar now needed personal protection due to threats.

In response, Justice Bindal stated Mukhtar had died from cardiac arrest. However, KM Nataraj, representing the State, confirmed the petitioner had already received the medical report. Pasha noted it was over 500 pages long and requested more time for review. He also mentioned that a request to investigate the cause of death had been submitted.

Supreme Court Recommends High Court for Further Action

Justice Sundresh suggested that the petitioner approach the High Court if he wished to pursue the matter further. Justice Bindal added that the Article 32 petition was only granted for a jail transfer — not for a posthumous investigation.

Series of Custodial Deaths Raises Suspicion

Umar Ansari’s plea referenced multiple suspicious deaths of inmates linked to high-profile cases:

• Meraj Ahmad, a co-accused under MCOCA, was shot inside Chitrakoot Jail in May 2021.

• Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azim were killed during a routine medical escort in April 2023.

• Shahnawaz, an undertrial, was murdered in December 2019 while being produced before court.

Despite these incidents, the UP administration maintained that Mukhtar Ansari was secure in jail. However, his death while serving a life sentence has reignited debates around custodial safety, state accountability, and medical negligence in Indian prisons.

Conclusion

The dismissal of Umar Ansari’s petition by the Supreme Court concludes a key legal effort to relocate Mukhtar Ansari. However, it opens new discussions on the circumstances of his death, the pattern of violence in custody, and the state’s role in ensuring justice and inmate safety.