Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a magisterial investigation into the death of Mukhtar Ansari.
The inquiry will be conducted by a three-member team, said a government spokesman.
Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari claimed that the gangster-turned-politician was subjected to "slow poisoning" in prison.
A similar claim was also made by Ansari's brother and Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari. However, the charge has been denied by the authorities.
Last week, Mukhtar, the former five-time MLA from Mau, submitted an application in Barabanki court, saying he was given some "poisonous substance" along with his food.
Ansari claimed that on March 19, his nerves and limbs started to pain after he consumed the food.
Police officials said that Ansari’s post-mortem is underway and is also being videographed. His viscera will be preserved if needed, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for his cremation at the Kalibagh burial ground in Mohamadabad in Ghazipur district.
The convoy carrying Ansari’s body will start its journey after Friday prayers, said a district official.
Section 144 has been imposed across Uttar Pradesh, banning large gatherings. Additional security personnel have been deployed in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur and Varanasi districts.
Mukhtar Ansari was brought to the Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda from the district jail in "an unconscious state" on Thursday. A team of nine doctors attended him but he died of cardiac arrest.
On Tuesday, Mukhtar Ansari was hospitalised for around 14 hours after he complained of abdominal pain.
Ansari was born into a family with roots in the independence struggle. His grandfather served as the Indian National Congress President in 1927.
SC to hear on Monday Bengal plea against Calcutta HC order axing 25,753 school jobs
The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday the plea filed by the West Bengal government against the Calcutta High Court's order cancelling 25,753 appointments in teaching and non-teaching posts made by the WBSSC in 2016.
CBI traces shop that sold bullets & cartridges seized from Sandeshkhali
The bills reportedly have Shahjahan’s name as the purchaser. The CBI is now trying to find out who went to the ammunition store to purchase the items.
Crew on seized cargo ship to be released soon, assures Iran Foreign Minister
The 16 remaining Indian crew members on board a cargo ship seized by Iran are set to be released soon, Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian assured his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel in a telephonic conversation on Saturday.
1,500 Sikhs join BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, Punjab
In a significant development, 1,500 members from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, along with Singh Sabha and other Sikh organisations, joined BJP on Saturday, just weeks ahead of Lok Sabha elections in Delhi and Punjab.
TMC writes to ECI complaining about CBI, NSG ops at Sandeshkhali during second phase of polls
The Trinamool Congress on Saturday wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) opposing the CBI and National Security Guard (NSG) raids at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas District on Friday and expressed apprehensions that the central agencies might have 'planted' weapons at the search site to 'defame it' when the second phase of Lok Sabha polls were underway.
2 CRPF personnel killed in attack by armed group in Manipur
Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including a Sub Inspector, were killed and two others have been injured after armed groups attacked a camp of security forces in Manipur’s Bishnupur district early on Saturday, police said.
Land subsidence leaves 350 people homeless in J&K’s Ramban District
Over 350 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K’s) Ramban District abandoned their homes on Saturday after destruction of the houses due to land subsidence.
Houthi leader vows to continue maritime attacks, calls Indian Ocean 'new theatre of confrontation'
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Houthi group, has vowed to continue its naval operations in the Red Sea, rejecting media reports suggesting a decrease in Houthi maritime attacks, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.