Mukhtar Ansari, a mafia-turned lawmaker, passed away on Thursday after suffering a heart attack while in custody at Banda jail.

A senior police official confirmed that Mukhtar collapsed in his barrack within the jail premises due to a heart attack. He was swiftly transported to a hospital in Banda, where medical personnel attempted to revive him. However, Mukhtar ultimately succumbed to cardiac arrest, as reported by a medical bulletin issued by Rani Durgawati Medical College.

Following Mukhtar’s demise, authorities have heightened security measures across various regions, including Lucknow, Mau, Ghazipur, and Varanasi. State-wide enforcement of Section 144 has been initiated in response to the situation.

This tragic incident occurred amidst concerns over Mukhtar’s declining health, with Thursday marking the second instance in two days where his condition worsened. Earlier in the week, the 63-year-old was hospitalised in Banda for approximately 14 hours after complaining of abdominal pain. Despite being discharged, apprehensions persisted regarding his well-being, particularly in light of allegations made by his brother and Ghazipur MP, Afzal Ansari. Afzal Ansari asserted that Mukhtar had been poisoned while in jail, citing instances where his health had deteriorated due to alleged ingestion of harmful substances.

Mukhtar, a former five-time MLA from the Mau Sadar constituency, had a controversial political career overshadowed by legal troubles. With over 60 criminal cases pending against him, Mukhtar had been incarcerated in both Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005, facing convictions in eight cases since September 2022. At the time of his passing, Mukhtar was held in Banda jail. Concerns regarding Mukhtar’s health had been raised earlier during a virtual court hearing in Barabanki on March 21, where his lawyer alleged that his client was being subjected to “slow poisoning”.