CJM orders asset attachment of ‘untraceable’ SP leader Tripathi

Tripathi,who has since joined the SP,was campaigning in Banda where voting was held on April 23. He even organised and addressed public meetings for SP candidate R K Patel.

“It is unfortunate that we could not trace him for the last 14 years,” said Chitrakoot DIG K K Tripathi,confirming that orders for attachment of the former MP’s property had been issued by court.

Assistant Prosecuting Officer T R Bharti said: “The warrant was sent not only to the local police station,but also to top police officers,yet he could not be produced before the court.”

Tripathi,meanwhile,expressed surprise over the court order. “I cannot understand how such an order could be passed when I have remained in public view and even campaigned for the SP candidate,” he said. The former MP said the case against him was politically motivated and he had obtained a stay on his arrest from the Allahabad High Court.

Asked about the court summons,he said: “I received the summons from the court four or five months ago. In reply,I submitted an application before the court along with court order.”

Tripathi said he was staying at his residence in Chitrakoot. According to the prosecution,a resident of Titrahiri village,Shyamu,had lodged an FIR at the Naraini police station in Banda against Tripathi and his associates,accusing them of forcibly entering his house and beating him up in 1994.

The then circle officer Balwant Rai investigated the case and filed a chargesheet against Tripathi and others.

No law for the mighty
* BSP candidate for Delhi East Haji Yunus and his brother,a BSP legislator from Bulandshahr,Haji Alim,are wanted in a rape case registered in 2003. Both are moving about freely. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Muzaffar Nagar has issued a non-bailable warrant against them.

* Samajwadi Party legislator Vijay Mishra is wanted by the Allahabad police in a criminal case. He has been actively campaigning for SP candidate from Bhadohi,Chote Lal Bind. He was in the news recently when he addressed a public meeting by a cellphone attached to a mike.

* Three days ago,Bareilly police arrested BSP worker Girdhari Lala alias Pappu against whom the court had issued order of attachment of property order on April 23. He was seen several times campaigning for BSP candidate Islam Sabir.