The mystery surrounding the murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh has deepened with the 'sudden disappearance' of her 12-year-old domestic help Desraj, who was the first to report the murder.

Madhumita was shot dead at her River Bank Colony residence in Lucknow on by two assailants on May 8. Police on May 11 decided to go in for DNA test of the foetus after a post-mortem revealed that she was six months pregnant.

The case assumed a political dimension after the sister of the deceased, Nidhi Shukla, alleged the poetess was involved in a relationship with Amarmani Tripath, minister of state in Chief Minister Mayawati's governement.

Police sources said Desraj has left for his native district Baharaich, but were unable to explain as to how he was allowed to leave. Police claim they have identified the two killers, one of whom Desraj has named as Satya Prakash.

They also claimed to have recovered two mobile phones from Shukla's residence, but one (94150 17015) was now reportedly in the possession of the personal secretary of Tripathi, sources said.

Police officials refused to comment when asked as to how the phone made its way into the hands of the minister's staff.

Tripathy also reportedly made calls from the mobile phone to journalists and claimed that it was his cell phone and was never with Madhumita.

Madhumita's sister Nidhi had alleged that Tripathi's wife was behind the murder because she was opposed to her husband's relationship with Madhumita. Tripathi, however, strongly denied any role of his wife or his own in the murder.