Murder-accused MLA calls Yogi ‘guardian’

Shahira Naim

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Tribune News Service

Lucknow, April 30

With murder accused Independent MLA from Nautanwa Aman Mani Tripathi spending well over an hour with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Gorakhpur today, speculation of his joining the BJP has begun.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tripathi said the CM was his “guardian” and he that would do his bidding. Tripathi asserted he was only a murder accused and had not been convicted.

Yesterday, in full public view, Tripathi had touched Yogi’s feet and presented him a bouquet. He had also shared the stage with the CM at a public function in Gorakhpur where ironically the CM spoke at length on the law and order situation, urging those who took the law in their hands to leave UP. Improving law and order was the BJP’s main poll promise.

Tripathi, a first-time MLA, is the main accused in the murder of 27-year-old law graduate Sara who had married Amanmani against his family’s wishes. On July 9, 2015, the couple’s car met with an accident in Firozabad, killing Sara instantly. Amanmani, who escaped without a scratch, was immediately arrested and brought to Lucknow where he was imprisoned. He had been absconding in a case of abductiion and attempt to murder.

Sara’s mother took up the “murder” of her daughter with former CM Akhilesh Yadav who ordered a CBI probe. The CBI has filed a charge-sheet in a special CBI court in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad under Sections of 302 (murder), 498-A (husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.

The CBI charge-sheet against Amanmani states that he strangled his wife Sara to death and then tried to cover up the crime with the car “mishap.”

Contesting the Assembly elections from behind bars, Tripathi was granted bail by the Allahabad HC on March 9, 2017. In 2003 his father, a four-time MLA from Nautanwa and a minister in the Mayawati government, was arrested for the murder of poet Madhumita Shukla. Along with his wife and co-conspirator, he is serving life imprisonment.