The Hindu : National : Supreme Court acquits MLA in arms smuggling case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 22, 2005

National

National

Supreme Court acquits MLA in arms smuggling case

Legal Correspondent

Held for illegal possession of arms
Given life-term by TADA court

Also convicted under Arms Act

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted an Independent MLA of Uttar Pradesh, Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, who was convicted and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5 lakhs in an arms smuggling case. A Bench, comprising Justice B.N. Agrawal and Justice C.K. Thakker, allowed the appeal of the legislator, who was earlier expelled from the Bahujan Samaj Party, against a judgment of a TADA court.

Setting aside the order, the Bench held that the evidence was not enough to convict Mr. Ansari under Section 5 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. The Special Judge had also convicted him under the Arms Act for possession of illegal firearms and ammunition and sentenced him to three years' imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 and the sentences would run concurrently. Mr. Ansari was arrested in a South Delhi locality for illegal possession of arms and ammunition. While convicting him, the trial court had passed severe strictures against him saying that showing any leniency to him would amount to grave injustice to society

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National