The Enforcement Directorate raided the offices of Bahujan Samaj Party MP Mukhtar Ansari in Lucknow and Ghazipur in connection with an alleged Prevention of money laundering case.
Ansari is now being held in the Banda jail in Uttar Pradesh.
During the searches, the ED visited 11 different places and also searched Mukhtar Ansari’s native town of Mohammadabad, which has long been considered his fiefdom. The federal agency is also raiding Mukhtar Ansari’s brother Afzal Ansari’s home.
The Agency also launched raids on Ansari’s close associates, Vikram Agrahari, Ganesh Mishra, and the owner of Khan Bus Company.
Uttar Pradesh police attached the properties of a BSP legislator worth Rs 14 crore last month under the Gangster Act and the Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. “Unlawfully obtained movable properties belonging to Afzal Ansari worth Rs 14.9 crore have been attached under the Gangster Act,” the police said in a statement.
Mukhtar Ansari is on trial in Uttar Pradesh on over 50 charges, including murder and attempted murder.