In the past, Tripathi has filed a complaint against SK Mishra, Mangla Mishra, Anupam Rajan and Anil Mathur, all senior IAS officers associated with the Directorate of Public Relations, Madhya Pradesh. Mishra is also the principal secretary to the Chief Minister. Tripathi submitted his complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Economic Offences Wing, and requested that action be taken against the IAS officers for allegedly committing fraud by distributing money from the state treasury to fake news websites by giving publicity advertisements of the Madhya Pradesh government.



Tripathi has also filed a corruption complaint against Radheshyam Julania, additional chief secretary of the water resources department.



It is significant to note that in 2016, Tripathi set himself on fire outside the gates of the house of the governor of Madhya Pradesh, demanding the arrest of the then governor Ram Naresh Yadav for his alleged involvement in the Vyapam scam.



Newslaundry contacted Sunil Sharma, Station House Officer of Kolar area, and asked him about Tripathi’s death. Sharma said, “He was drunk and fell from the terrace and there is nothing suspicious about his death.” On further questioning on the circumstances related to Tripathi’s death, Sharma said, “I cannot talk much about this case. We have to wait for the post-mortem.”



Bhopal-based activist Ajay Dubey said, “He [Tripathi] has done significant work regarding issues related to the municipal corporation, water resources and public works departments. There should be a free and fair enquiry into the matter. He was actively working against corruption, and the death of such a person is totally unacceptable. There was no question of him committing suicide so there is definitely some foul play behind his death.”