SP dragged my name in: BSP minister defiant

Nearly 48 hours after the murder of Madhumita Shukla, police are yet to trace the named accused, Satya Prakash. Minister of State for Stamps...

Nearly 48 hours after the murder of Madhumita Shukla, police are yet to trace the named accused, Satya Prakash. Minister of State for Stamps Amar Mani Tripathi has also not been questioned though there are allegations of his family’s involvement.

‘‘My sister was killed at the behest of BSP minister Amar Mani Tripathi’s wife who had threatened her of dire consequences if she did not stop meeting her husband. The two were planning to get married which irked Tripathi’s wife,’’ alleged 25-year-old Madhumita’s younger sister Nidhi. Madhumita was pregnant at the time of her murder at her Paper Mill Colony residence on Friday.

Tripathi, on his part, has claimed that neither he nor his family was involved in the murder of the poetess he met during a kavi sammelan at Gorakhpur three years back. ‘‘I am ready to face any inquiry, even a CBI probe, and also the DNA test because I know I am not guilty,’’ said Tripathi. ‘‘Her sister gave the statement linking my family with the murder under pressure from the SP. She has met me and apologised for her statement since,’’ Tripathi claimed.

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Police registered an FIR based on the statement of Madhumita’s 10-year-old servant. Lucknow Range DIG A.K.D. Dwivedi said today: ‘‘The foetus has been removed but hasn’t yet been sent for the DNA test.’’

Meanwhile, SP leaders continued to demand action against Tripathi and submitted a memorandum to Governor V.K. Shastri for the second consecutive day. ‘‘We have information that the case is being transferred to the CB-CID which is a dumping ground for cases against leaders. We demand a CBI probe,” said SP leader Ahmed Hassan.

‘‘There are over 37 cases against Tripathis and yet he has political patronage. If the Chief Minister has any morals left, she should dismiss him and order his arrest,’’ he said.

Late on Saturday, Madhumita’s body was handed over to her relatives after post-mortem. Police have recovered two personal dairies of the deceased in which names of Tripathi and his wife are written in codes.

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