New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today (March 1, 2004) said it has approached Interpol for issuance of a Red Corner Notice against Madhumani, wife of former Uttar Pradesh Minister Amarmani Tripathi and alleged mastermind in Madhumita Shukla murder case, amidst reports that she was presently in Bangkok.

"We have approached Interpol for a Red Corner Notice against Madhumani. She has already been declared an absconder," CBI Director U S Misra told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

Asked whether the reports about her presence in Bangkok were true, the CBI Director said, "I will not be able to comment on this...we are trying to locate her and bring her before the court of law."

Amarmani Tripathi is already under arrest in connection with the case.

The name of Madhumani cropped up after Santosh Rai, an accused in the case, had told the CBI during his interrogation that he had been contacted by Rohit Chaturvedi after Tripathi's wife had allegedly decided to get "rid" of the poetess as she was bearing her husband's child.

Tripathi was arrested by the CBI on September 21 last year after his blood sample matched with the DNA of Madhumita's seven-month-old foetus.

The CBI registered a murder case on June 24.

The 24-year old poetess was shot dead by two assailants in her Paper Mill colony residence on May 9. The alleged relationship between Madhumita and the former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Minister created ripples in political circles forcing Mayawati to sack Tripathi from the Ministry.