Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) have been enforced across Uttar Pradesh, restricting large gatherings, while additional security personnel have been deployed in districts like Banda, Mau, Ghazipur, and Varanasi.

The police also conducted a flag march and issued alerts across the state to prevent any untoward incidents following Ansari's death.

Ansari was admitted to Rani Durgavati Medical College in an unconscious state from the district jail in Banda, where he was pronounced dead by hospital authorities following a cardiac arrest.

Ansari's brother and Ghazipur MP, Afzal Ansari, and Mukhtar's son however alleged that the deceased was being slowly poisoned in jail, a claim refuted by authorities.

Mukhtar Ansari had a history of legal troubles, including convictions for murder and forging documents, leading to his imprisonment in various cases over the years.

Ansari, a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar, had over 60 criminal cases against him and was sentenced in multiple cases since September 2022, leading to his imprisonment in the Banda jail.

In October last year, the Enforcement Directorate attached Ansari's assets worth over Rs 73.43 lakh as part of a money laundering investigation, adding to his legal woes.

Meanwhile, condolences poured in from the political fraternity with AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, Samajwadi Party, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav condoling Ansari's demise. Political leaders also expressed concerns over the circumstances leading to his death.

Former Bihar MP Pappu Yadav, now with the Congress, demanded a court-monitored probe into Ansari's death, labelling it as "institutional murder".