Lucknow: After a long political and legal battle, the Punjab government finally wrote to Uttar Pradesh to make arrangements to transfer mafia don Mukhtar Ansari from Ropar jail to Banda jail by April 8.
Though the don, who is a BSP MLA from Mau in UP, tried all ways to prevent his transfer from Punjab to UP fearing life threat, all his effort went in vain when the Supreme Court rejected his plea on the opposition by UP government.
Additional chief secretary home of Punjab government on Saturday write to his counterpart UP ACS, Home Awanish Kumar Awasthi to take custody of prisoner Mukhtar Ansari from Ropar jail by April 8 and take him to Banda jail in UP as per the directive of the apex court.
The Punjab government has also written that the health issues of Mukhtar Ansari should be taken care of by the UP government during the transfer of the prisoner.
The Punjab government also said that the UP government should also make arrangements for production through video conferencing of Mukhtar in a criminal case in Mohali, Punjab from Banda jail on April 12.
Official sources here on Sunday have confirmed the letter sent by the Punjab government to take the custody of Mukhtar by Apr 8.
Meanwhile, a team of security personnel led by officers from Banda, were on their way to Punjab to take custody of Mukhtar and bring him back to UP.
In Banda jail, security has been spruced up and also two police outposts have been set up outside the jail premises along with the deployment of PAC.
Last month, the top court had ordered the shifting of Mukhtar from Ropar jail to Banda jail by April 11.(UNI)