Prayagraj. A special court in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on Friday sentenced former minister Rakesh Dhar Tripathi to three years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh in the disproportionate assets case. The former minister has been granted bail by the court.
Government advocate Gulab Chandra Agrahari said that MP/MLA special court judge Dr. Dinesh Chandra Shukla, while holding former minister Rakesh Dhar Tripathi guilty, ruled that if the fine amount is not deposited, then additional imprisonment of six months. Will have to face punishment.
Agrahari said that the special court has given its verdict against the former minister in a 108-page order. After the punishment, there were preparations to send the former minister to jail. The lawyers cited his old age and poor health, after which the former minister got bail from the MP MLA court.
He told that on June 18, 2013, Inspector Ram Subhag Ram of Vigilance Establishment Prayagraj area had registered a case against him for earning disproportionate money in Muthiganj police station. The total income of the accused or their dependents from known and legitimate sources was shown to be Rs 49 lakh 49 thousand 928 and the amount spent on maintenance during the check period was Rs 2 crore 67 lakh 80 thousand 605. A satisfactory explanation was not given for this, which falls under the category of crime under Section 13(2) of the Corruption Act.
It is noteworthy that Rakesh Dhar Tripathi was once counted among the powerful leaders of BSP. Tripathi, considered very close to the BSP chief, was counted among the big Brahmin leaders. Before the 2007 assembly elections, he left the Bharatiya Janata Party and joined BSP and contested the 2007 Handia assembly elections in which he was victorious.
He was also made the Higher Education Minister during the BSP regime. Before the 2012 assembly elections, he changed sides once again. After not getting the ticket, he became the candidate of Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party. The party then expelled him. Just before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he again joined BSP and was made the candidate from Bhadohi but had to face defeat. Rakesh Dhar Tripathi had contested the 2022 UP Assembly elections from Pratappur seat of Prayagraj on the election symbol of Apna Dal Sonelal but he had to face defeat.
