The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to release gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari on parole for canvassing in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh polls.
Justice Mukta Gupta allowed the plea of the Election Commission (EC) which moved the high court challenging a trial court's order granting bail to Ansari till March 4 to campaign.
Ansari is contesting the polls from Mau Sadar constituency on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket.
The high court had on February 17 stayed the custody parole after the EC moved the court seeking the cancellation on the ground that Ansari might influence witnesses in the 2005 murder case.
A special court in Delhi earlier granted bail to Ansari in the murder case of BJP lawmaker Krishnanand Rai.