Lakhimpur Kheri case: SC refuses to relax Ashish Mishra’s bail conditions

The Supreme Court recently denied a request to alter the bail conditions imposed on Ashish Mishra, the key suspect in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. Ashish Mishra, son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra, appeared before a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant. The court stated that there is no reason to consider the application seeking the modification of the conditions set in their January 2023 bail order.

Ashish Mishra's legal counsel mentioned that these restrictions have made it difficult for him to spend time with his family, attend his daughter's birthday celebrations, and handle family matters. The court noted that relaxations have been granted previously, enabling him to spend time with his family in Lakhimpur during festival days for a specified period.

However, once this period ends, he is obligated to return to Lucknow as per the court's directive. This latest request for bail condition relaxation was filed just a month after the state cleared Mishra's name of allegations he violated the bail condition, as his alleged associate allegedly threatened a witness. The state police investigated the matter and submitted a final investigation report to the trial court, which found no evidence linking the sole accused to either Ashish or his father Ajay Mishra.

The bail condition mandated that Mishra or his family would not influence witnesses directly or indirectly. According to Advocate Prashant Bhushan representing the victims, the state had dropped crucial witnesses in the case who were eyewitnesses. Bhushan is gathering documents to file an application before the court. The bench advised Bhushan to approach the trial court, stating that the judge is the best person to determine the importance of those witnesses and should be approached first.

The Uttar Pradesh government informed the court that the trial in the main case is progressing steadily, with only 51 out of 131 witnesses remaining to be examined. On October 3, 2021, eight individuals, including four farmers, were killed during a protest in Tikunia, Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh. The police charge sheet alleges that these killings were pre-planned, with Ashish Mishra arriving in an SUV alongside a convoy of three to four vehicles at the protest site.

Farmers infuriated by this act pulled out three occupants from the car and lynched them. Four other farmers involved in the incident are currently on bail.