SC to Hear Santosh Kumar Rai’s Plea for Early Release in Madhumita Shukla Murder Case
Following the release of Amarmani Tripathi and Madhumani Tripathi, the main convicts in the infamous Madhumita Shukla murder case, now the convicted killer Santosh Kumar Rai has approached the Supreme Court seeking an early release.
Santosh Rai, referring to the Amarmani Tripathi and Madhumani Tripathi case, has filed a plea with the Supreme Court requesting the court to issue directives to the government for a decision on his release.
He has stated that until a decision is reached on his mercy petition, he should be granted interim bail.
Notably, the hearing for his plea took place on August 25 before the same bench that had denied the restraining order against the release of Amarmani Tripathi and Madhumani Tripathi in response to Nidhi Shukla’s appeal, sister of Madhumita Shukla.
The Supreme Court is set to hear Santosh’s plea on September 1. During this time, both the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments are expected to file their replie.
In the petition filed by advocate Harshvardhan Vishen, Santosh Rai claims that he had submitted a timely application for release to the Central, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand governments, but a decision has yet to be made.
He revealed that he is currently serving imprisonment for 18 years, 1 month, and 14 days along with remission, and 21 years, 10 months, and 15 days with remission. Hence, he submitted, the petitioner is eligible for parole and premature release. He asked the court to direct the state government to consider the case and provide a decision.
Harshvardhan Vishen argued that just as in the case of co-accused Amarmani Tripathi and Madhumani Tripathi, the Supreme Court had directed authorities to consider their plea for early release, the same should be done in Santosh Rai’s case. He urged the court to expedite a decision in his case as well. Until then, he should be granted interim bail, submitted Rai.
