Poet murder: Life term of ex-BJP minister cut short

Nidhi Shukla, sister of deceased poet Madhumita Shukla, speaks with the media at the Supreme Court complex on Friday. Pic/PTI

Former UP minister Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani, who were sentenced to life for the murder of poet Madhumita Shukla, were released from prison on Friday, said officials.

Granted remission

The prisons department on Thursday issued an order for the premature release of Amarmani Tripathi, citing the state's 2018 policy on remission, since they have completed 16 years of imprisonment. The department also cited their old age and good behaviour, the official said citing the order. Amarmani, 66, and Madhumani, 61, are currently admitted in Gorakhpur hospital for health reasons.

Nidhi Shukla, Madhumita's sister, had approached the SC against the decision and had said she fears for her and her family members' life if the two are released.
A bench of Justices Aniuddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi of the Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay Tripathis' release from the jail.
Family fears for life

"I have been telling everyone that this is going to happen. I have procured the documents through an RTI which clearly state that 62 per cent of the jail term that the two are said to have served had been spent out of jail," Nidhi had earlier told PTI.

Poet Madhumita was pregnant when she was shot dead on May 9, 2003, in Paper Mill Colony, Lucknow. Amarmani Tripathi was arrested in September 2003 in connection with the murder of the poet with whom he was allegedly in a relationship.

Amarmani had been a minister in the BJP state government in 2001.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever