Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's convoy, escorted by Uttar Pradesh (UP) police, stopped briefly in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday morning (27 March).

As the convoy halted in Kharai, Ahmed exited the police van to relieve himself.

When asked if he was afraid, Ahmed replied, "kahe ka dar (what fear?!)," and was swiftly taken away by police personnel.

The previous evening, after being released from Sabarmati central jail in Ahmedabad, Ahmed had said he was afraid of being killed.

He had yelled 'murder, murder' in Hindi to reporters as he was taken away from the prison and into a police vehicle by security.

After his restroom break at around 7am Monday, Ahmed's convoy left Shivpuri district and entered Jhansi district of UP at around 9am, said a police official.

UP police is taking the gangster from Sabarmati jail to Prayagraj for a court hearing. They are expected to reach Prayagraj this evening.

Ahmed, a former Samajwadi Party member of parliament, has been in Sabarmati central jail since June 2019, after being accused of arranging the kidnapping and assault of businessman Mohit Jaiswal while Ahmed was lodged in a UP prison.

He was then transferred to Sabarmati jail following a Supreme Court order.

Police said Ahmed is named in over 100 criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case, says police.

Ahmed will be produced before a court on 28 March when it passes an order in a kidnapping case in which he is an accused.