On Friday, the Supreme Court eased the bail conditions set for MLA Abbas Ansari in a case related to the UP Gangsters Act, permitting him to travel outside the state with prior notification to the investigation officers. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi instructed Ansari to ensure that the trials concerning him are not unduly delayed and to assist in the swift resolution of these cases.
The bench stated, “…The petitioner is allowed to travel outside the state of UP, provided that he shall furnish the particulars of place of visit to the trial court, along with contact number to the investigating officer and shall further ensure that the trial proceedings are not hampered or delayed.” The bench also instructed senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Nizam Pasha, who are representing Ansari, the son of the late gangster Mukhtar Ansari, to ensure his presence in the trial court, except in cases where he has been allowed to be absent.
Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, representing the Uttar Pradesh Police, noted that the trial in the gangster case is ongoing, and Ansari has been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court. He asserted that the petition could be resolved with appropriate directions for Ansari to cooperate in the prompt handling of the cases against him. Furthermore, the bench clarified that the condition prohibiting Ansari from discussing ongoing cases does not prevent him from addressing other topics related to public welfare or development.
Justice Kant remarked that this condition aims to protect the courts from potential social media backlash rather than to silence him, reaffirming that as a public figure, he is free to talk about issues affecting the welfare of citizens and the economy. The Supreme Court, which granted Ansari interim bail on March 7, has been periodically relaxing his bail terms. On May 16, it permitted him to stay at his residence in Ghazipur while visiting his Mau constituency, modifying the March 7 ruling that imposed several bail restrictions on him. The bench had allowed him to stay for three consecutive nights during his constituency visits but prohibited him from participating in any political meetings during that time.
