SC asks for report on Amarmani using cell phones in jail

New Delhi, Feb 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to produce tomorrow the report of District Session Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate, District Magistrate and the SSP on the issue of Amarmani Tripathi using cell phones and other facilities while in Lucknow jail for his alleged involvement in Madhumita Shukla murder case.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhan and Dalveer Bhandari issued the directions during the hearing of the transfer petition filed by Nitish Shukla, younger sister of the deceased poetess, seeking transfer of the trial outside the state of Uttar Pradesh as main accused in the case Amarmani Tripathi is a former minister and is very close to the party in power in the state.

The court was surprised when it found the report missing from the court file despite the same having been mentioned in the index of the paper book, stating that it has been filed.

The court also called for a copy of the CD of the sting operation conducted by the Zee News showing Amarmani Tripathi, an MLA with criminal background using cell phones and talking to his supporters and hardcore criminals from the jail.

The CBI produced the CD before the court. It also supported the petitioner though it has not filed any transfer petition in the case.

The court wanted to know from the counsel for the respondents, why they were opposed to the transfer of the case outside the state? Senior counsel Ranjan Divedi appearing for Amarmani Tripathi opposed the transfer of the case to Delhi citing political reasons.

The court also inquired how in other criminal cases, pending for the last 26 years, even the charges were not framed till date.

In all 38 cases are registered against Tripathi and he claimed that in 20 cases he has either been acquitted or discharged.

It may be noted here that Mudhumita was allegedly killed in 2003 at the instance of Tripathi when she started pressing for marriage after she became pregnant as a result of illicit relations with Tripathi who was a minister at that time.

The hearing will continue tomorrow and there are 115 defence witnesses to be examined in the case out of which 58 are public servant.

The court made it clear that if it decides to transfer the case it will certainly be transferred outside UP with the appointment of a special judge who will conduct the trial on day-today basis for speedy disposal of the case.

UNI