Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on June 17 recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla and suspended director general of Crime Branch-Criminal Investigative Department (CB-CID), which has been investigating the case.

Addressing a hurriedly called press conference, the Chief Minister said Mahendra Lalka has been suspended for not completing the inquiry into the high-profile case within the stipulated period of one month, which expired on June 16.

Adverse remarks have been made in the confidential report of six other members of the investigating team, she said.

"The agency neither submitted its report nor sought an extension. We have taken it very seriously," Mayawati said.

The Chief Minister said her government decided to recommend the case to the CBI as Shanti Shukla, mother of the slain poetess, had given a written request to the director general of police, casting aspersion on the investigation being conducted by the CB-CID.

Mayawati said she had announced in her last press conference that she would order a CBI probe into the murder if she received a written request on this count from the family members of Madhumita.

All the six officers of the CB-CID, who were entrusted with the task of investigating the murder case, have been removed, but the Chief Minister did not elaborate as to where they have been posted.

Mayawati disclosed that the sacked Minister of state Amar Mani Tripathi had called on her on June 16 and pleaded his innocence in the murder case. Tripathi was prepared to face any kind of inquiry that could unravel the truth, she added.

The former minister had refuted allegations made by the Opposition parties that he had masterminded the murder of the poetess, the Chief Minister added.

Mayawati said she had assured Tripathi that if family members of the slain poetess give in writing that he (Tripathi) was not involved in the murder, she would pardon the former minister and re-induct him into her ministry.

But if CBI inquiry proves his involvement in the murder, "I will throw Tripathi out of the party and will see to it that he also loses his membership of the legislative Assembly," the Chief Minister said.

Ridiculing her predecessors as mere "ghoshna mukhya mantri" (Chief Minister making only announcements), she said she believed in doing what she announced.

She further said she believed in giving justice to all and at the same time was committed to deal with an iron hand the criminal elements in the state.

PTI