Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: Supreme Court grants bail to Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra

Today (July 22, 2024), the Supreme Court (SC) of India granted bail to the son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra, Ashish Mishra, in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. In October 2021, vehicles of his convoy ran over a group of farmers who were protesting against the farm laws resulting in the death of 8 persons. The SC also ordered the Trial to expedite the proceedings as only 7 out of 117 witnesses have been examined. 

The order reads, “We direct the Trial Court to fix the schedule, keeping in view the other time-bound or urgent matters that are pending but prioritizing the subject trial. The Public prosecutor shall inform the Trial Court of the witnesses (not less than 5) who shall be produced on the date fixed. The State shall ensure that all witnesses shall remain present. The counsel for the petitioner or those presenting other co-accused shall extend full cooperation to the Trial Court in this regard.” The top court further asked the trial court to send the status update regarding the sane before the next hearing. During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave appeared for Mishra. 

It was observed that last year, the SC bench constituting Justice Surya Kant and Justice JK Maheshwari granted interim bail to Ashish Mishra for 8 weeks extending it from time to time with certain conditions imposed on him. One such condition was that Ashish Misra was directed by the top court to leave Uttar Pradesh within 1 week of availing interim bail. Further, it directed him not to stay in the NCT of Delhi or the State of Uttar Pradesh during his interim bail. The order was further modified by allowing him to stay in Delhi.