Critics argue that the UP administration has selectively targeted Ansari and other Muslim figures under the guise of law enforcement
Team Clarion
LUCKNOW – The Ghazipur Police on Tuesday seized a luxury flat worth ₹2 crore of Afshan Ansari, widow of slain Samajwadi Party leader Mukhtar Ansari in the Uttar Pradesh capital city. The action was taken under the provisions of the Gangster Act, signalling intensified efforts to clamp down on activities linked to the Ansari family.
Flat number 1402 in Lucknow’s upscale Chelsea Apartment in Vibhuti Khand was attached following an order issued by the Ghazipur District Magistrate on 11 November. A police team, accompanied by Vibhuti Khand officers and a deputy tehsildar, executed the attachment amidst public announcements made via drumbeats, in line with legal procedures.
Afshan Ansari, who has been on the run since the case against her under the Gangsters Act was registered in 2020, is now a wanted individual with a ₹50,000 reward for her capture.
“Apart from this flat, we have identified and seized assets worth over ₹10 crore linked to her and her associates,” said a senior police official. “These actions are part of our ongoing mission to dismantle the financial backbone of Mukhtar Ansari’s syndicate.”
Afshan Ansari is alleged to be deeply involved in the alleged illicit activities alongside other family members including her brother-in-law Anwar Shahzad and a relative Sharjeel alias Atif Raza. All three are accused of managing and expanding Ansari’s alleged network of operations, which include extortion, land grabbing, and other anti-social activities.
A total of 11 cases have been registered against Afshan Ansari in Ghazipur, ranging from extortion to property-related crimes. A non-bailable warrant has been issued against her.
Critics argue that the administration has selectively targeted Ansari and other Muslim figures under the guise of law enforcement.
While authorities justify their actions as part of a wider campaign against gang-related activities, there is a widespread belief that the disproportionate focus on Mukhtar Ansari’s family reveals an underlying bias.
“These actions appear more about optics and less about justice,” said a local resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “Selective enforcement against individuals from minority communities sends a dangerous message.”
Mukhtar Ansari, a former MLA, remains a polarising figure in Uttar Pradesh politics. His family’s legal troubles are often perceived through the lens of political and communal dynamics, raising questions about the balance between justice and targeted persecution.
The government has reiterated its commitment to rooting out crime regardless of background. “We are focused on justice, not religion or politics,” said an official statement.
As the legal noose tightens around Afshan Ansari, it remains to be seen whether the crackdown will lead to a significant dismantling of Mukhtar Ansari’s alleged network or further deepen the polarised perceptions surrounding the case.
For now, the drums of the Ghazipur Police resonate as both a warning to fugitives and a subject of public debate on the state’s approach to crime and justice.
