SC directs CBI to consider transfer of Madhumita Shukla murder case

New Delhi, Jan 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the CBI to consider the issue of transferring Madhumita Shukla murder case to a Special Court here from Uttar Pradesh and give its report.

A Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhan and V S Sirpurkar issued the directions while hearing the transfer petition of Nidhi Shukla, the younger sister of the murdered poetess.

Ms Nidhi is seeking transfer of the case outside the state on the grounds that a free and fair trial in the case was not possible since former Uttar Pradesh minister Amarmani Tripathi and his wife are the main suspects in the case and enjoy enormous political clout, being an MLA supporting the ruling party in the state.

The petitioner has also alleged that the local police was deliberately neglecting and overlooking material evidence in the case to shield the culprit.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, appearing for the Union government, supported the petitioner.

Counsel for the state government, however, opposed the appeal of transfer on the grounds that since 202 prosecution witnesses are to be examined by the state, it will not be feasible to transfer the case outside the state.

The court, however, directed the CBI to clarify its stand on the issue if the Delhi Special Court is directed to conclude the trial, within three months expeditiously on day-to-day basis.

Madhumita, who was allegedly having illicit relations with the former minister, was killed when she started pressing him to marry her after she became pregnant. Tripathi is in Lucknow jail while his wife is out on bail.

UNI