Shopkeepers connected to Mukhtar Ansari’s Ghazal Hotel have received a major boost following a Supreme Court ruling. The Ghazipur administration has acted upon the court’s orders and reopened six shops that had been sealed under the Gangster Act in 2021. The reopening took place on Wednesday, October 1st, to the great relief of the shop owners.
The shops at Ghazal Hotel, located in Mauhabagh, under Ghazipur Kotwali, were shut down following action under the Gangster Act. The reopening was conducted in the presence of Sadar Tehsildar Rajiv Yadav, with all shopkeepers visibly pleased. They saw it as a reason for celebration during the Navratri festival.
Shopkeeper Aamir Ansari expressed his delight, mentioning the dual happiness of the occasion – the reopening of the shops and the release of Mukhtar Ansari’s son, Umar Ansari. He explained that their businesses had been closed since 2021, resulting in considerable financial difficulties.
Four shopkeepers had approached the Supreme Court with a petition regarding six of the 15 shops within the complex. The court ruled in May to reopen those six shops. Following government protocols, the shops were unlocked under the supervision of Sadar Tehsildar Rajiv Yadav. The rental income from these shops will now be transferred to the government treasury.
The Ghazal Hotel is linked to Mukhtar Ansari and his wife, Afsha Ansari. The shops were sealed by the administration in 2021 after the demolition and seizure, based on claims of improper use of the hotel’s land. The reopening of the shops, ordered by the Supreme Court, which also named the Tehsildar as the administrator, has brought immense joy to the shopkeepers.