New Delhi, September 22
Displaying the depth of his new-found friendship with former Uttar Pradesh minister Amarmani Tripathi, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today ruled out any action against him in the wake of his arrest by the CBI in the Madhumita murder case yesterday.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Yadav said, “Tripathi has saved Uttar Pradesh....He has helped in saving the country. Irrespective of what action the CBI or the court takes, there will be no action from the Samajwadi Party.”

Mr Tripathi was arrested by the CBI following the matching of his blood sample with the foetus of Madhumita’s unborn child.

He was a minister in the Mayawati government and was sacked after the Opposition raised a hue and cry over his continuation in the BSP-BJP ministry in the wake of reports linking him to the murder.

Mr Tripathi later crossed over to the Samajwadi Party when former Chief Minister Mayawati parted ways from the BSP-BJP coalition and threw his weight behind Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav. Support from him and other BSP breakaways during the vote of confidence on the floor of the state Assembly led to Mulayam Singh Yadav coming to power with complete majority.

LUCKNOW: Controversial Samajwadi Party legislator Amarmani Tripathi, who was arrested in connection with the murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla yesterday, was remanded in judicial custody till October 6 by a CBI court here today.

The CBI, however, pressed the court for police custody of Tripathi and the Judge reserved his judgement on police custody till tomorrow.

Tripathi, who was a minister in the Mayawati as well as the BJP-led previous governments, was brought to the court room under tight security. Earlier he complained of chest pain and restlessness and was admitted to a government hospital.

“Tripathi had high blood pressure and he was diabetic. There is nothing serious,” Dr R.B. Singh told The Tribune.