Mukhtar Ansari was sentenced to life imprisonment for the first time in the Awadhesh Rai murder case.  Earlier he had received a maximum sentence of 10 years.  After coming back to UP from Ropar Jail in Punjab on the orders of the Supreme Court, the noose of the law started tightening on Mukhtar.  He was sentenced eight times by different courts within a year and a half, including two life sentences.  This made it impossible for him to come out of jail alive. Mukhtar and his family are in trouble

The reason behind Mukhtar's helplessness is his family members being in jail or absconding in different cases.  Mau MLA's son Abbas Ansari is in Chitrakoot jail.  His wife Nikhat Ansari is also in jail.  Wife Afsha Ansari is absconding.  A reward has been declared on him.  Younger son Umar Ansari is on bail. Mukhtar had contested from Varanasi Parliamentary seat on BSP ticket against Dr Murli Manohar Joshi in 2009.