New Delhi, Following the death of Mukhtar Ansari, a senior Muslim politician and five-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district, in jail, Indian opposition leaders and family members are calling for an independent investigation to unravel the circumstances leading to his demise.

According to Kashmir Media Service, officials have attributed Ansari’s death to cardiac arrest, stating he was transported to a hospital in Uttar Pradesh after losing consciousness in the district jail. This official account, however, is contested by Ansari and his relatives, who have previously voiced concerns over threats to his life and alleged a conspiracy to kill him. This suspicion was bolstered by claims made by Ansari himself, just two days prior to his death, that he had been poisoned.

Umar Ansari, Mukhtar Ansari’s son, alleged his father was poisoned during dinner on March 19, lamenting that the family was not notified by authorities but instead learned of the incident through media reports. He also recounted being denied a visit to his father shortly before his death, reinforcing the family’s claims of foul play and indicating their intention to seek judicial recourse.

Prominent opposition figures, including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, have echoed the family’s call for a thorough investigation, criticizing the apparent neglect of Ansari’s allegations of poisoning in custody. Chandrashekhar Azad, leader of the Azad Samaj Party, has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the death, whereas Congress leader Pappu Yadav labeled it an institutional murder and urged the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice to take suo motu cognizance for an impartial investigation.

Notably, Mukhtar Ansari’s brother, Afzal Ansari, had also reported concerns over Mukhtar being targeted with poison, adding another layer of suspicion surrounding the politician’s death. These allegations, combined with Mukhtar Ansari’s own preemptive moves to alert the Supreme Court about potential threats to his life, have fueled demands for a transparent inquiry to ensure accountability and justice.