According to authorities, gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari tested positive for coronavirus and is being held in isolation in the district jail here.

Mukhtar Ansari tested positive for Covid-19 in a rapid antigen test on Saturday, which was confirmed by an RT-PCR test on Sunday, according to chief medical officer N D Sharma.

He has been held in segregation at the jail’s Barrack No. 16.

Ansari’s health is being monitored by a team of physicians, according to Banda government medical college principal Mukesh Kumar Yadav, who also said that despite testing positive for the infection, Ansari did not exhibit any symptoms.

According to Jail Superintendent Pramod Tripathi, his state is fine.

Mukhtar Ansari, a BSP MLA, was brought here from a Punjab jail on April 7 after the Supreme Court issued an order.

 Recently Mukhtar Ansari was the talk of the nation when he was brought back to Banda jail from Roopnagar Punjab, Mukhtar Ansari has been detained since January 2019 in connection with an extortion case.

The top court noted in its order on March 26 that Mukhtar Ansari was reportedly involved in numerous cases of attempted murder, cheating, and conspiracy, in addition to offenses under the Gangsters Act, lodged in Uttar Pradesh, and that ten of these cases are at various stages of the trial.