Deadline runs out, Tripathis elude CB-CID

Former minister and BSP leader Amar Mani Tripathi and his wife ignored a second summons from the Crime Branch-CID today in the case of poete...

Former minister and BSP leader Amar Mani Tripathi and his wife ignored a second summons from the Crime Branch-CID today in the case of poetess Madhumita Shukla’s murder. The CB-CID officials waited the whole day to record their statement but they did not turn up.

So, even as the one-month deadline given by CM Mayawati to the state investigating agency to complete the probe nears an end, the CB-CID has not even been able to record the statement of the former minister and BSP MLA, who is the prime accused in the case. Sources say CB-CID, which has progressed at a snail’s pace, is likely to seek an extension of the deadline.

In a fresh development, Madhumita’s mother Shanti Shukla has sent a letter to state police chief demanding that the inquiry be handed over to CBI. On Saturday, Mayawati said she had no problems with a CBI probe so long as the family of the deceased sent a formal request. However, the state police chief denied getting any such letter. ‘‘I can comment on the fate of the case only after we get the letter,’’ state police chief Hakam Singh said.

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Shanti and her elder daughter have complained against the tardy progress in the probe into the case and have been demanding a CBI probe instead of one by CB-CID. ‘‘We were forced to send a request for the CB-CID probe but now we feel that only CBI can expose the killers and also the conspiracy behind the murder of my sister,’’ says Nidhi.

The CB-CID has been very cautious in its investigations because these involve a former BSP minister who is said to have had intimate relations with the slain poetess.

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