The court directs the state government to respond in the hotel deed dispute registered in 2020; interim protection to continue until February 24
PRAYAGRAJ – The Allahabad High Court has granted relief to Abbas Ansari and Umar Ansari in the Ghazipur Ghazal Hotel case and stayed the proceedings pending before the trial court.
Justice Sumeet Gopal passed the order this week while hearing a petition filed by Abbas and Umar Ansari, sons of late Ghazipur strongman Mukhtar Ansari, seeking to set aside the entire criminal proceedings in the matter. The court has given the Uttar Pradesh government a final opportunity to file its reply and fixed the next date of hearing for February 24, 2026. Till then, the trial court proceedings will remain stayed.
The case relates to an FIR registered on September 19, 2020, at Kotwali Police Station in Ghazipur. The FIR names Afsha Ansari, wife of late Mukhtar Ansari, along with her sons Abbas and Umar Ansari and 12 others. The allegation in the FIR is that the Ghazal Hotel was constructed using a forged deed.
A case is currently pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Ghazipur.
During the hearing in the high court, counsel for Abbas and Umar Ansari argued that the continuation of proceedings before the trial court was not justified and sought the quashing of the case. After hearing preliminary submissions, the court directed the state government to file its response and ordered that no further action be taken in the trial court until the next hearing.
A legal expert present in court said, “The interim stay means that the trial court cannot proceed further in the matter until the High Court examines the issues raised in the petition.” He added, “It gives temporary protection to the petitioners, but the final outcome will depend on detailed arguments and the state’s reply.”
Outside the court, a supporter of the Ansari family said, “We have faith in the judiciary. The court has given relief, and we hope that the truth will come out during the hearing.”
The high court’s order is seen as significant because it pauses the criminal proceedings that have been pending since 2020. The matter will now be examined in detail once the state government files its reply.
Bulldozer Action in Hamirpur Case
In another matter, the Allahabad High Court has taken a strict view regarding alleged bulldozer action in Hamirpur. A Division Bench of Justice Atul Sridharan and Justice Siddharth Nandan continued its interim stay on the demolition of properties.
The bench made it clear that authorities are free to take legal action against the petitioners in accordance with the law. However, it said that no demolition should be carried out without the court’s permission.
The bench observed that due process must be followed and that executive authorities cannot proceed with demolition while the matter is under judicial consideration.
A lawyer associated with the case said, “The court has clearly said that if there is any illegality, the government can act as per law, but it cannot demolish properties without following proper legal procedure.”
Both matters will now be heard further on the dates fixed by the court.
