The Allahabad High Court has granted major relief to Samajwadi Party’s Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari in connection with his controversial statement on marijuana consumption at the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela.
The court granted him interim relief from arrest. The order was passed by a single bench of Justice Vikram D. Chauhan on Friday.
The court directed Afzal Ansari to file a discharge application in the trial court within three weeks and disposed of his petition.
The court stated that if Afzal Ansari files a discharge application, the trial court will consider it before framing charges.
The court also permitted Afzal Ansari’s counsel to apply for bail or anticipatory bail before the trial court.
The court ordered that no punitive action shall be taken against Afzal Ansari for 15 days, or until he files for bail or anticipatory bail in the relevant court.
Following a case lodged at the Kotwali police station in Ghazipur in September 2024, a petition was filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking the quashing of the proceedings pending before the MP/MLA Special Court, Ghazipur.
SP MP Afzal Ansari made a controversial statement in 2024 regarding the consumption of marijuana ahead of the Mahakumbh 2025.
An FIR was subsequently registered in the matter at the Kotwali police station in Ghazipur.
After completing the investigation, the police filed a charge sheet in the Ghazipur court.