Lucknow: A Central Bureau of Investigation court today (November 10) allowed former Minister Amar Mani Tripathi, jailed in connection with the poetess Madhumita Shukla murder case, to attend the budget session of Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Special Judicial Magistrate R M Yadav allowed Tripathi's application in this regard after hearing counsels for the CBI and the defence at length.

The former minister was present in the court during the hearing.

Tripathi was arrested by CBI on September 23 and has been in judicial custody since then.

His counsels had approached the court for allowing him to attend the budget session of the Assembly, which began this morning.

The court had directed Tripathi to appear before it today and the authorities to give a report about his health.

The CBI counsel objected to the prayer pleading that he might influence the witnesses but the court rejected its contention.

Tripathi would be taken to the Assembly every morning from the jail and brought back after the day's business.

The court also directed Tripathi to make himself available for questioning whenever required.

PTI