Did Amarmani address poll rally from Uttarakhand jail?

Amarmani Tripathi lands himself in a fresh controversy by allegedly using mobile phone to address a poll rally from inside his prison cell in Dehradun, reports Utpal Parashar.

Updated on: Apr 30, 2007, 14:49:02 IST

None | By Utpal Parashar, Dehradun

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Former Uttar Pradesh minister and an accused in the Madhumita Shukla murder case Amarmani Tripathi has landed himself in a fresh controversy by allegedly using mobile phone to address a poll rally from inside his prison cell in Dehradun.

Following complaints from Uttar Pradesh authorities, Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri is reported to have lambasted police and jail officials and warned them of stern action if such goof-ups happen again.

All five accused in the case including the former minister's wife Madhumani are at present lodged in the jail in Dehradun after the trial was shifted to Uttarakhand following a petition by Madhumita's sister in Supreme Court.

This is not the first instance of Amarmani violating rules. Earlier this month, the accused had left the jail without intimating CBI officials while going to Uttar Pradesh to file his nomination papers.

CBI officials who were to accompany him as per SC guidelines had to chase Amarmani's vehicle for nearly three hours before they could stop it. The accused is contesting as a Samajwadi Party candidate from Laxmipur in Maharajganj district.

There are also reports that the former minister was being provided with VIP facilities inside his cell. Jail authorities, however, state that facilities accorded to Amarmani are as per provisions of the jail manual.

"We have mobile phone jammers inside the jail and close circuit TV cameras installed near Amarmani's cell. Hence, there is no possibility of him using mobile phones to address the poll rally from prison," asserted jailor VD Pandey.

He added that a thorough check of Amarmani's cell and belongings as well as of the entire jail was carried out on Sunday by a team led by IG (Prisons) Bhaskaranand Joshi, but no mobile phone was found inside the jail premises.

Pandey stated that the accused could have made phone calls while on his way to court for his appearances. But since the court hearing the case has remained closed for the past few days, he ruled out that possibility too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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