Mukhtar Ansari Height, Age, Death, Biography, and Full Life Story

The name Mukhtar Ansari was synonymous with authority, scandal, and political clout in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh for many years. Referred to as a “baahubali” politician, Ansari’s life was characterized by his aristocratic upbringing and a long list of criminal activities.

In this article, every detail about Mukhtar Ansari including Mukhtar Ansari height, his political life, and family history is elaborated upon.

Who Is Mukhtar Ansari?

Mukhtar Ansari was a notorious gangster politician and the former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the Mau constituency, who had been serving as MLA consecutively for the last five terms. He was a controversial figure because while some viewed him as a “Robin Hood,” others regarded him as an embodiment of the “mafia-raj” of Uttar Pradesh. Mukhtar Ansari died on March 28, 2024, while in judicial custody.

Mukhtar Ansari Biography

Mukhtar Ansari Age

Mukhtar Ansari was born on June 3, 1963. When he died in March 2024, he was 60 years old. However, despite having spent almost two decades in prison, he maintained his relevance and influence in the political arena of Uttar Pradesh till the end of his life.

Mukhtar Ansari Early Life and Education

Being born in an extremely powerful family in Ghazipur, there were no signs from the beginning that Mukhtar would become involved in criminal activities in the future. His surroundings had a culture of valuing education and service to society. He studied at various schools in Ghazipur before seeking further education to lay down the foundations of his future career, which unfortunately turned out to be the fight between rival gangs in the region.

Mukhtar Ansari Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance

Mukhtar Ansari was known for his towering presence and a signature mustache that added to his “baahubali” persona.

College Career

Ansari did his graduation from Post Graduate College, Ghazipur. It is said that while studying in college in the early 1980s, he emerged as a very active student leader. This was the time when he started getting himself associated with the local gangsters who were into “contract wars,” which marked the beginning of his transformation from a student to a muscleman.

Journey to Infamy: Rise to Fame

His journey toward infamy or fame started in the late 1980s. Contract wars regarding the coal mines and railway projects took place in Purvanchal region. His gang came in direct competition with the rival gang of Brijesh Singh. His reputation to deliver “justice” out of the courts helped him gain popularity in some social circles and also enter politics.

Career Timeline

• 1980s: Entry into the world of organized crime and contract disputes.
• 1996: Won his first assembly election from Mau on a BSP ticket.
• 2002: Re-elected as an Independent candidate.
• 2005: Surrendered and went to jail; continued to win elections from behind bars.
• 2007 & 2012: Won subsequent elections while in prison.
• 2017: Won his final election as a BSP candidate.
• 2022: Stepped down to let his son, Abbas Ansari, contest the seat.

Political Career

Mukhtar Ansari was a political survivor. He represented the Mau constituency for 25 years. Throughout his career, he shifted between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Samajwadi Party (SP), and his own outfit, the Qaumi Ekta Dal (QED). His political influence was so deep-rooted that even from jail, his word was considered law in parts of Ghazipur and Mau.

Controversies of Mukhtar Ansari

Mukhtar Ansari’s life has been plagued by multiple legal suits and criminal charges. Following are some of the most prominent issues in his career:

• Criminal Cases: He has been involved in over 60 criminal cases throughout his life, covering crimes like murders, kidnapping, extortion, and even rioting.
• Krishnanand Rai Murder (2005): He was the chief suspect in the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, who had been killed in an ambush attack using AK-47 rifles.
• Awadhesh Rai Murder Case (1991): It took almost 32 years for him to be convicted of murdering Awadhesh Rai, the younger brother of Congress MLA Ajay Rai.
• Mau Communal Riots (2005): He was accused of inciting riots in Mau, which occurred during the Bharat Milap celebrations.
• Prison Empire: He was repeatedly embroiled in disputes due to his ability to control his political power despite being imprisoned in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
• Unlawful Property Dispossession: His later years have seen property worth hundreds of crores to be either seized or destroyed due to their construction on illegally occupied government land.
• Pretend Arms License Case: Just days before his death, he was awarded a life sentence for procuring a double barrel gun license through a fraudulent process in 1987.

Awards and Achievement

While he did not receive traditional awards, his “achievements” are often viewed through the lens of political dominance and family legacy.

The Death of Mukhtar Ansari: Timeline, Cause, and Controversy

The death of Mukhtar Ansari on March 28, 2024, marked the end of a high-profile and controversial era in Uttar Pradesh politics. His passing was not without drama, leading to intense media scrutiny and a multi-month investigation into the circumstances of his final days.

Timeline of His Final Days

• 19-21 March 2024: His lawyer filed a case with the court of Barabanki stating that he was being administered “slow poison” through his meals in Banda Jail. According to his allegations, his limbs had become numb and he was suffering from severe abdominal pains.
• 26 March 2024: He was taken to the Rani Durgawati Medical College during the night after collapsing in jail. He received treatment for his abdomen pain and constipation and then discharged back to the jail that same night.
• 28 March 2024: His health rapidly declined. He was admitted to the hospital at around 8:25 PM due to vomiting and found in an unconscious state. Nine doctors attended to him, yet he did not survive long.

Death Cause

As per the post-mortem examination conducted by five medical doctors and recorded via video recording:

• Primary Cause: Myocardial Infarction.
• Findings of Post-mortem Examination: It was found that his death was caused by natural medical reasons.
• Forensic Report
  The final investigation report issued by magistrates in September 2024 revealed that there were no poisonous substances present in his internal organs and food consumed from the prison cell, which consisted of salt, jaggery, and chickpeas.

Mukhtar Ansari Marriage Details

The first wife of Mukhtar Ansari is Afshan Ansari. While Mukhtar was a very public person, Afshan kept away from the limelight. However, like her husband, Afshan has recently fallen under legal investigation for her role in property and money laundering cases involving family business.

Family: Parents, Siblings, and Relatives

Mukhtar belonged to one of India’s most distinguished families, which makes his criminal trajectory even more surprising.

Mukhtar Ansari Net Worth and Income Sources

According to his 2017 election affidavit, Mukhtar Ansari declared assets worth over ₹21 Crore.

• Real Estate: Huge land holdings and buildings in Ghazipur and Lucknow.
• Business: Construction contracts, scrap business, and coal mining (allegedly through proxies).
• Government Salary: Income from his long tenure as an MLA.

Social Media Platforms

Mukhtar Ansari himself was not active on social media, but his sons Abbas and Umar Ansari maintain a significant presence on Instagram and X (Twitter) to communicate with their supporters and provide updates on legal proceedings.

Interesting and Unknown Facts About Mukhtar Ansari

But beyond the media glare and controversies, there are some other lesser-known facts about the background, ancestry, and childhood of Mukhtar Ansari. The following are some of the interesting facts not known to most people about Mukhtar Ansari:

1. Apart from being a criminal, he comes from an illustrious lineage of freedom fighters. His father’s side grandpa, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari was one of the prominent freedom fighters of the country. He served as President of the Indian National Congress in 1927.
2. Founding Member of a Renowned University: The great man, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari was also one of the founding members and second Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University located in Delhi.
3. Another Hero in the Family Lineage: Ansari’s maternal grandfather’s brother Brigadier Mohammad Usman was also a renowned hero who was posthumously conferred with Mahavir Chakra for his heroics in the Indo-Pakistan war in 1947.
4. Distant Relation with a VP: Ansari is a distant relation and grand-nephew of India’s former vice president Mohammad Hamid Ansari.
5.  First Tangle with Law at 15: Ansari had his first encounter with law enforcement agencies when, as a minor at 15 years, he was accused of criminal intimidation at
6. Winning While in Prison: One amazing achievement in his career as a politician was the victory in three consecutive assembly elections (2007, 2012, and 2017) despite his confinement in prison.
7. Fondness for Sports: During his days in college at PG College Ghazipur, he was an active cricket player, and he has been fond of physical exercise since his younger days.
8. His Legacy as a Shooter: Abbas Ansari, son of Mukhtar, is not only a politician; he is also an internationally acclaimed shooter and has participated for India in international matches.
9. The Open Yellow Jeep Saga: During the 2005 riots in Mau, Mukhtar made news when he drove through the area under curfew in an open yellow jeep.
10. Late Change in Fate: He was never charged in any case during the last 40 years of his political career. In the last two years of his life (2022 to 2024), he was charged in eight separate cases.
11. The Nineteen Years of Jail: From his arrest in 2005 until his death in 2024, Mukhtar Ansari spent almost 19 years imprisoned without interruption, apart from some brief stints on parole.
12. Fighting the Contract War: Prior to his entry into politics, Mukhtar Ansari was part of the “contract mafia” in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, fighting it out with people such as Brijesh Singh for huge railway and coal mine contracts worth several hundred crores.
13. The Three Languages: He was articulate and spoke with a command of Hindi, Urdu, and English languages, which helped him in communicating with both his rural electorate and urban politicians.
14. His Ancestry in Afghanistan: According to his family, there is an ancestral connection that goes back through his family to 11th century Afghanistan, specifically Herat, where the famous Sufi Saint Abdullah Ansari lived.

Conclusion

The tale of Mukhtar Ansari is one of strength, lawlessness, and an esteemed heritage taken down a separate path. With a towering stature of 6’2″, he was an intimidating figure in the political landscape of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. He will be either considered a gangster or a political leader based on what one may hear from the people of Ghazipur. His demise in 2024 brought to a close an age of “bahubali” politics that reigned supreme in the Hindi-speaking belt for decades.

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