Former Uttar Pradesh minister and main accused in poetess Madhumita Shukla murder case Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani, whose bail bonds were cancelled by the Supreme Court on Monday, failed to surrender before the court in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Their counsel moved an application before the sessions court in Lucknow saying the duo could not surrender due to the lawyers' strike in Allahabad High Court and pleaded for their being allowed to do the same on Wednesday.

The court accepted the plea and set September 28 for their surrender.

However, CBI counsel K P Singh opposed Tripathi's plea and argued that his surrender had nothing to do with the strike by lawyers.

"The apex court has cancelled their bail bonds and asked them to surrender forthwith," the special public prosecutor told newsmen outside the court.

On being asked whether the duo could be arrested in the meantime, Singh said their bail bonds stood cancelled and the state government directed to ensure that they either surrender or be arrested.

More reports from Uttar Pradesh