How Awadhesh Rai was murdered by Mukhtar Ansari gang in 1991

The adage, ‘crime never pays’, stands true for Mukhtar Ansari, one of Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) most dreaded gangsters. The 59-year-old gangster-turned-politician from UP's Mau district has been convicted and sentenced to life-imprisonment in the 32-year-old murder case of Awadhesh Rai, brother of Congress leader Ajay Rai.

Awadhesh Rai was shot dead on August 3, 1991, at the gate of his Lahurabir residence in Varanasi. A case was registered against Mukhtar Ansari and others.

The quantum of the punishment was announced by the MP/MLA court of Varanasi.

"This is the end of our many years of waiting. I, my parents, Awadhesh's daughter and the whole family kept patience... Governments came and went and Mukhtar strengthened himself. But we did not give up. Because of our lawyers' efforts, today the court has found Mukhtar guilty in the murder case of my brother," said Ajay Rai after Ansari's conviction.

The case, which went nearly unnoticed for nearly 31 years, was finally opened last year in June 2022 in Varanasi. The trial went on for almost a year and it was concluded on May 19.

What was the case?

It was August 3, 1991, when Awadhesh Rai, brother of Congress leader Ajay Rai was murdered in broad daylight. The incident took place when the two were standing outside their residence in Lahurabir locality of Varanasi. Some miscreants in a  Maruti Van arrived at their gate and opened fire at Rai.

Also, Rai in 1991 was with the newly formed Samajwadi Party headed by socialist leader Mulayam Singh Yadav. Ajay Rai was a candidate of SP from the Varanasi seat in the legislative election.  

It was also alleged that he had opened firing from his licensed gun and the gunmen had left their vehicle behind while escaping the gunshots.

Awadesh was taken to the hospital but was declared dead. Ajay Rai had then lodged an FIR  against Mukhtar Ansari, Bheem Singh, former MLA Abdul Kalim and several other unnamed people.

However, the case went unheard for nearly 32 years as police authorities failed to find sufficient evidence against Ansari. Further, the Mau gangster had his tentacles spread in the corridors of power and he enjoyed support from political parties.

The case was brought to attention in June 2022 when Ansari was at UP’s Banda jail. Surprisingly, when the case finally began moving in Varanasi’s MP/MLA court, the case’s original diary went missing. The diary has not been able to be recovered till date and instead a photocopy of the diary has been used in the court.

Ansari’s legal team had objected to the trial being conducted based on a photocopy. But the court went ahead with the trial.

Why Awadhesh Rai was murdered

Though no specific reason has come to the fore for the killing, it is widely believed that it was a business rivalry that led to killing.

In the 1980s, development work in UP’s one of most backward regions, Ghazipur-Varanasi belt had started and the government started giving contracts for the work. Ansari was one of the front-runners of lucrative land deals and government contracts which also led him to brush his shoulders with other men.

When Ajai Rai allied with Ansari in 2014

Though the two have been sworn enemies since early 1990s, they had a temporary alliance in 2014 ahead of the general elections. Ajay Rai was then contesting on a Congress ticket from Varanasi against Narendra Modi. Ansari, who had then decided to challenge Modi, changed his decision and lended his support to Rai.

Rai had then welcomed Ansari’s support before the elections.

Other cases against Ansari

There are nearly four dozen cases lodged against Ansari. The Awadhesh Rai murder case is also one of the nine murder cases against him. In one such case, Ansari has been accused of murdering BJP legislator Krishnanand Rai in 2005. However, Ansari was acquitted by the court in 2019 due to lack of evidence against him.

The gangster saw a drastic change in fortunes since 2017 when the BJP government returned to power after nearly three decades. The Yogi Adityanath-led government since then has clamped down on the clout of Ansari and several of his men have either been arrested or killed in encounters by the UP police. The government also razed down his illegal properties in Lucknow and other parts of UP.