Madhumita kin to take fight to SC

The family of slain poetess Madhumita Shukla has said they would take their fight for justice to the Supreme Court even as the Opposition de...

The family of slain poetess Madhumita Shukla has said they would take their fight for justice to the Supreme Court even as the Opposition demanded a CBI probe into the case.

Talking to reporters yesterday, Madhumita’s brother Vijay Shukla said the murder was a ‘‘political killing’’ and added he would approach the President, PM and the apex court if they failed to get justice. He also alleged his family had received an anonymous threat call.

Meanwhile, alleging that the CB-CID probe ordered into the case was just an ‘‘eye wash’’, Opposition parties have demanded that the Centre order a CBI inquiry into the case.

Story continues below this ad

RKP chief Kalyan Singh urged the Prime Minister to take suo moto cognisance of the case and order a CBI inquiry to unravel the truth. ‘‘It’s Vajpayee’s moral responsibility to order a CBI inquiry before visiting Lucknow as he represents the city in Lok Sabha,’’ he said. Vajpayee is due to arrive in Lucknow on Tuesday.

UP Congress president Arun Kumar Singh Munna said only a CBI inquiry would be ‘‘impartial’’.

Amar Mani Tripathi, the BSP minister sacked by Mayawati in connection with the poetess’s murder, is known for his lavish lifestyle. He has been on bail after he stayed in jail for one month on charges of harbouring kidnappers of a boy from Hardoi.

Tripathi has a total of 33 cases against him — including three murder charges and seven attempts to murder besides kidnapping charges.

Story continues below this ad

Tripathi entered the world of crime in the late ’80s as a sharpshooter in the gang of mafia leader Harishanker Tiwari who is also a minister in the Mayawati government. Tripathi later entered politics and fought Assembly polls from Laxmipur constituency of Maharajganj district. Tripathi first became an MLA on a Congress ticket in 1996 and later became a minister in Kalyan Singh’s Cabinet. In 2000, Tripathi was sacked by then CM Rajnath Singh from his ministry, following reports that he had given shelter to a group of kidnappers.