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Synopsis

Mukhtar Ansari, a politician with a criminal background, has been handed a 10-year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh by a Ghazipur court on Friday. This verdict follows his conviction in the 2009 Gangster Act case on Thursday.

This case, registered by the Uttar Pradesh police back in 2009, relates to allegations of Ansari's involvement in a conspiracy to murder one Kapil Dev Singh, who was killed that year.

The case marks the sixth conviction in the past 13 months for the former five-term MLA. In June, a Varanasi court sentenced Ansari to life imprisonment for his involvement in the murder of Awadhesh Rai, who happened to be the brother of Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai.

On August 3, 1991, Awadhesh Rai was gunned down in broad daylight outside his house. His brother and former MLA Ajay Rai and one Vijay Pandey were present at the spot. In the FIR, Ajay Rai named Mukhtar Ansari, Bhim Singh, former MLA Abdul Kalim, Kamlesh Singh, and Rakesh as accused. 

Prior to conviction in Awadesh Rai murder case, in April, Ansari received a 10-year prison sentence in connection with two separate cases: the kidnapping of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Nand Kishore Rungta and the 2005 murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai.

Mukhtar Ansari, aged 60, has been in custody since 2005 and faces more than 40 criminal cases. He is known for his influence in the Ghazipur-Mau-Varanasi region, which he allegedly wields through a criminal syndicate.

[Inputs: India Today]