SC grants bail to MLA Abbas Ansari in two cases

New Delhi [India], October 18 : The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Mau MLA Abbas Ansari in two separate cases - one pertaining to money laundering and the other related to an alleged illegal meeting in jail.
A bench of justices MM Sundresh and Pankaj Mithal granted bail to Abbas Anasari in connection with the money laundering case.
In his bail plea filed through advocate on record Lzafeer Ahmad BF, Abbas has challenged the Allahabad High Court order dated May 9.
In May, Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench dismissed the bail plea of Ansari in connection with the money laundering case.
Ansari has been booked under Section 3 read with Section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
The Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) has been filed based upon an investigation, initiated on the basis of three FIRs relating to predicate offences.
One of the deals allegedly related to collecting funds for building a school "though no school was built and the land is being used for agricultural purposes".
In another complaint, it has been stated that the accused along with the other two co-accused knew that the property in question was owned and vested with the government but by using their influence usurped the said land, got a map prepared, and constructed an illegal house thereby causing loss to the government.
ED alleged that the investigation established that Abbas Ansari is the alleged beneficiary of the proceeds of crime and he has allegedly actively participated in the offense of money laundering.
In another case related to an alleged illegal meeting in jail, a bench of justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan granted bail to Ansari.
"Having regard to the fact that the investigation is complete; charge-sheet has already been filed and the petitioner has been in custody for more than one-and-a-half years in the instant case and keeping in view the fact that the conclusion of trial will take some reasonable time, however, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the petitioner is directed to be released on bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of
the Trial Court," a bench of justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said.
"The petitioner shall fully cooperate with the trial proceedings and shall remain present in Court on each and every date of hearing unless granted exemption from personal appearance," the top court said.
Abbas Ansari filed the petition through advocate Lzafeer Ahmad BF and challenged the Allahabad High Court rejecting his bail in the matter relating to an alleged illegal meeting with his wife in the Chitrakoot jail. Allahabad High Court passed an order on May 1.
Following the alleged incident, Abbas Ansari was shifted to Kasganj jail in February 2023. Seven people were arrested, along with Abbas Ansari's wife, in the case.
Later, Ansari's wife was granted bail in the case by the top court.