Lucknow: In a powerful address during the inauguration of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Residential Scheme in Lucknow, former Director General of Police (DGP) Brijlal left the audience stunned with his chilling accounts of the mafia era that once plagued Uttar Pradesh. Speaking in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Brijlal recounted how organized crime flourished under previous regimes and how the present government has restored law and order in the state.
The event marked a historic moment as the Chief Minister inaugurated housing units built on land once controlled by mafia elements. The Lucknow Development Authority allotted flats to 72 economically weaker families, symbolizing a transformation from lawlessness to lawful empowerment.
Brijlal recalled, “The very land where Mukhtar Ansari once held sway is now providing homes to the poor. Under the previous governments, mafia leaders ruled openly while the administration stood helpless. There was a time when even the DGP’s office was not beyond their reach.”
“A Reign of Fear Under SP Rule”
The former DGP alleged that during the Samajwadi Party’s tenure, criminals enjoyed open patronage. “Mafia leaders operated parallel governments. Police officers and bureaucrats saluted them, and traders lived in fear,” he said. He recounted that during the Mau riots, gangster Mukhtar Ansari was seen roaming the streets with a rifle in an open vehicle while the government turned a blind eye.
Brijlal further revealed that Mukhtar Ansari was behind the 2005 assassination of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, who was killed in an ambush where over 600 bullets were fired, 67 of which struck Rai. “When I was IG (Law and Order), we received intelligence that Mukhtar had imported a light machine gun from Kashmir. DSP Shailendra Pratap Singh seized it with cartridges, but political pressure forced him to resign,” he said.
“End of Mafia Rule Under Yogi Government”
Praising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, Brijlal asserted that the mafia raj is now a thing of the past. “Some gangsters have been eliminated, others are behind bars, some have fled the state, and a few are now seeking spiritual redemption. Today, Uttar Pradesh stands for peace, law, and governance,” he said.
Highlighting the transformation, he noted, “Where once extortion and kidnapping thrived, investments worth over ₹40 lakh crore are now pouring in. Law and order has laid the foundation for development and prosperity.”
“When Law Prevails, Development Follows”
Brijlal thanked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his strong and transparent governance, which he credited for the sweeping changes across the state. “Only when law and order are strong can development truly happen. The homes being handed to 72 poor families today stand on land once occupied by criminals — this is real transformation,” he said.
The inauguration of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Residential Scheme thus became more than a ceremonial event — it stood as a symbol of Uttar Pradesh’s journey from the shadows of crime to the light of reform, progress, and justice.
