Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to MP Afzal Ansari in connection with an FIR registered by Ghazipur police over alleged irregularities linked to a firearm licence record. The relief will remain in force until the next date of hearing, fixed for Aug 10.The case stems from allegations that an official file related to the purchase and sale of a firearm on Ansari’s licence went missing. Police claim the probe pointed to missing records, irregularities in weapon transactions and a rifle purchased on the licence that could not be traced.A division bench of Justice Siddharth Varma and Justice Achal Sachdev passed the interim order.Counsel for the petitioner, Upendra Upadhyay, told the court that the state sought an adjournment to enable additional advocate general Manish Goyal to appear on behalf of the govt. The court granted time and listed the matter for Aug 10, while extending interim relief to Ansari till then.According to police, the records were made to disappear deliberately in collusion with arms clerks. An FIR was lodged at Kotwali police station, Ghazipur, naming Ansari, former arms clerk Gaurishankar Lal and arms clerk Sugriv Tiwari under cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and relevant Arms Act provisions.
