Ex-UP minister Amarmani Tripathi jailed for Madhumita Shukla's murder set to walk free

Former UP minister Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani, serving life terms in the Madhumita Shukla murder case, are set to be released from the prison, Gorakhpur jail superintendent, Dilip Pandey said on Friday.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay Tripathis' release from the jail.

The prisons department had on Thursday issued an order for the premature release of Amarmani Tripathi, citing the state's 2018 policy on remission, since they have completed 16 years of imprisonment.

The department also cited their old age and good behaviour as Amarmani is 66 and Madhumani is 61, the official said citing the order.

Amarmani Tripathi and his wife are currently admitted in the BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur for health reasons.

Gorakhpur district jailer AK Kushwaha said that if the formalities get completed, they may be released on Friday.

A bench of Justices Aniuddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi refused to stay Tripathis' release.

The bench also issued notices to the state government, Tripathi, and his wife seeking their replies within eight weeks on a plea filed by the poet's sister Nidhi Shukla.