The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Samajwadi Party leader and an eastern Uttar Pradesh strongman Amanmani Tripathi in a case involving the mysterious death of his wife Sara Tripathi.
Sara had died in a car crash on National Highway-2 when the couple was on their way to the National Capital last year. Amanmani had come out unscathed in the car accident prompting Sara’s mother suspect the death, Sara’s mother, Seema Singh, had lodged an FIR against Amanmani and his family members, which included his parents, for murdering her daughter. Subsequently the case was taken over by CBI. The agency on Friday confirmed that Amanmani had been arrested and would be produced in front of a court to face murder charges.
Tripathi’s father, former UP Minister Amar Mani Tripathi, too is serving a life sentence for the murder of a Lucknow poetess, Madhumita, 12 years ago. Amanmani was also arrested in connection with another case of kidnapping lodged against him in Lucknow last year.According to officials, Sara had married Amanmani at an Arya Samaj temple in Aliganj area of Lucknow in July 2013.
Her mother has alleged that Amarmani and his wife Madhumani, who are serving life terms for the murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla, were against the marriage. She has accused the couple of conspiring to kill Sara. Following the death of her daughter, Seema Singh had petitioned Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav seeking the transfer of investigation to CBI. After which the UP government had sent its recommendation to the Centre for a CBI inquiry into the case.
The arrested accused was in news when Shivpal Yadav, during a feud with UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, announced the candidature of Amanmani from Nautanwa assembly constituency in Maharajganj. In October, Akhilesh in a statement had said that he had “no idea” about a new list of Samajwadi Party candidates for the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly elections which included the name of Amanmani.
