PRAYAGRAJ, March 18 -- The Allahabad high court has set aside the attachment of immovable property belonging to one Mansoor Ansari, cousin of late gangster Mukhtar Ansari, observing that the state failed to establish any nexus between the commission of any offence and the construction of the building/shops in question.

Allowing the criminal appeal filed by Ansari, justice Raj Beer Singh clarified that the state cannot seize property under the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, based on mere allegations or simply because an individual is related to a known gangster.

The special judge Ghazipur had previously upheld the DM's decision to attach Ansari's shops and building, valued at Rs.26,18,025, on the allegati...