By IANS
New Delhi: A Delhi court Thursday framed charges under a stringent law against Mukhtar Ansari, mafia don-turned-politician and Uttar Pradesh legislator, for allegedly being a member of an organised criminal gang. His trial will begin May 22.
Additional Sessions Judge Savita Rao framed charges against Ansari under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for being a member of organised crime.
The court also framed charges under MCOCA against Ansari’s associates and alleged gangster Prem Prakash alias Munna Bajrangi.
The judge said that Bajrangi being a member of an organised crime syndicate had indulged in “continuing unlawful activities… by using violence or threat of violence”.
The court said that the crimes were committed for gaining pecuniary benefits or other undue economic advantages.
Ansari’s associates Iftekhar Ahmed and Meraz Ahmed were also charged under MCOCA for facilitating organised crime.
“Before or at the time of registration of this case, you (Ansari) were found to be the member of an organised crime syndicate,” the court said, adding that the trial will commence May 22.
All the four were involved in various cases of extortion in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Bajrangi was arrested in October 2009 for threatening a south Delhi businessman Ashok Tebriwal in a bid to extort money. Iftekhar and Meraz were arrested in November 2009.
Bajrangi, Iftekhar and Meraz were acquitted by a Delhi court earlier this year of extortion charges.
Ansari is also accused in a murder case in 2005.