Former Uttar Pradesh minister Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani, both accused in poetess Madhumita Shukla murder case, surendered before the district sessions court in Lucknow on Thursday.

While Madhumani entered the court premises from the back door at 1535 hours, Amarmani Tripathi reached the court room about five minutes later.

Before arriving at the court, Tripathi had reached the senior superintendent of police's residence, from where he was brought to the court under police escort.

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The court, while taking both the accused under custody, directed them to be sent to the district jail under police escort in a specially protected vehicle.

Earlier, Tripathi's counsels had moved an application pleading he apprehended threat to his life from his political opponents. The court also directed that Tripathi should be provided adequate security on every date of hearing of the matter.

The Supreme Court had cancelled the bail bonds of both the accused on Monday and directed them to surrender before the court immediately.

Tripathi and his wife came to the court to surrender on Wednesday but could not, owing to the strike by lawyers.