Release order issued for ex-UP minister Amarmani Tripathi, wife in Madhumita murder case

Uttar Pradesh's prisons administration department issued an order on Thursday for the release of former UP minister Amarmani Tripathi and wife Madhumani Tripathi, serving life term in the high-profile Madhumita Shukla murder case. The duo has been granted release orders on the basis of a mercy petition filed before the UP Governor and UP's 2018 remission policy. The Governor’s directive paves the way for the couple’s release. The two are lodged in Gorakhpur jail.

The former state minister and his wife were convicted of hatching a conspiracy and killing of Shukla in Lucknow in 2003. They were sentenced to life imprisonment by Dehradun court in 2007 following a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation.

Amarmani Tripathi's name was already prominent in the world of crime in the region, who even allegedly managed to attain a ministerial position through his criminal connections. The case garnered massive attention, becoming one of the most talked-about criminal incidents of the time.

Following years of imprisonment, the couple is set to be released after completing their 16-year-long sentences. However, before their release, they are required to submit a bond before the District Magistrate.

The news of their impending release has, however, sparked controversy, with Madhumita Shukla's sister, Nidhi Shukla, strongly opposing the decision. Nidhi Shukla issued a written statement to the media, expressing her dissatisfaction and disagreement with the release orders.

Today, the Supreme Court is scheduled to conduct a hearing regarding the case. The decision to release the couple came late Thursday night, causing outrage and concern among those who believed that justice might not have been served fully in the case.