Former DSP Recalls Political Pressure After Invoking POTA on Mukhtar Ansari

In a striking revelation, former Deputy Superintendent of Police Shailendra Singh has come forward with allegations against the then government led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, accusing it of forcing his resignation merely 15 days after he invoked the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) against notorious gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in January 2004. Singh, who had been instrumental in recovering a light machine gun (LMG) from Ansari’s possession—an unprecedented feat at the time—claimed his efforts to dismantle the criminal empire were undercut by political interference aimed at protecting Ansari.

The case against Ansari escalated when Singh and his team, part of the UP Special Task Force (STF) in Varanasi, intercepted a deal for an LMG valued at ₹1 crore, leading to the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of the weapon and cartridges. Despite the significant evidence linking Ansari to the illegal arms deal, Singh recounts how political pressures rapidly mounted, leading to a series of transfers within the police force and ultimately his coerced resignation. The former DSP detailed the challenges he faced, including being slapped with a vandalism case months later, a charge that the UP government would eventually withdraw in May 2021.

Singh’s allegations shed light on the complex nexus between politics and organized crime in Uttar Pradesh, revealing the lengths to which some factions within the government went to shield Mukhtar Ansari. This account not only highlights the obstacles faced by law enforcement officers in their line of duty but also raises questions about the integrity of political oversight over police operations.

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