Friday, September 9 2005 09:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Mother and sister of poetess Madhumita Shukla, whose murder sparked a political controversy in Uttar Pardesh in May 2003, have moved the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to former state minister Amar Mani Tripathi, the main accused in the case.

CBI has already challenged the Allahabad High Court order granting bail to Tripathi who allegedly conspired to murder the poetess after she fell out with him.

"We have sought intervention of the Supreme Court in cancellation of bail of Amarmani Tripathi," Nidhi Shukla's counsel Kamini Jaiswal told sources in Delhi. Nidhi is sister of Madhumita.

The Apex Court will hear the arguments on the application today (Sept 9, 2005).

The Shuklas have alleged that Amarmani was threatening them and the witnesses in the case, which is in clear violation of the bail conditions, Jaiswal said.

Nidhi had earlier written a letter to the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court alleging that Tripathi has sent his goons to her residence in Lakhimpur Kheri to 'eliminate' her and her family but said no FIR was lodged even after their giving a written application. Nidhi pleaded that the other three accused in the case - P C Pandey, Rohit Chaturvedi and Santosh Rai - should not be released on bail for the sake of her and witnesses' security.

Madhumita was shot dead at her residence on May 9, 2003 by unidentified assailants. Tripathi, his wife and some others were arrested by CBI, which has filed a chargesheet in the matter in the trial court.