Mukhtar Ansari started gaining prominence during the 1980s and 90s, a period characterised by the widespread criminalisation of politics in Uttar Pradesh. He was facing trial in various cases in courts of Delhi, Punjab, and multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh. Since 2020, the UP government and the UP police have intensified efforts to prosecute Ansari.
Born in 1963, Ansari, whose name was Mukhtar Junior, was the youngest of three brothers. Ansari got a bachelor’s degree from the Ghazipur Government PG College. He was said to be a good who played many tournaments for his college