The Supreme Court has sought a formal response from Ashish Mishra, son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra, regarding allegations of threatening witnesses in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. This case pertains to the death of five persons in October 2021 when vehicles in Mishra’s convoy allegedly ran over protesting farmers.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued the direction in light of an application alleging that Mishra had intimidated witnesses. Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Mishra, dismissed the allegations, asserting that the attached photographs do not feature his client. Nonetheless, Justice Kant directed Mishra to formally address the claims by filing an affidavit.
Background of the Case
The Lakhimpur Kheri incident occurred during protests against the now-repealed farm laws. Vehicles from Mishraās convoy allegedly plowed through demonstrators, leading to five deaths.
In February 2022, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Mishra, but the Supreme Court overturned the decision in April 2022. The apex court found the High Court’s considerations to be flawed and directed a fresh hearing of the bail plea. Following this, the High Court denied bail to Mishra.
In January 2023, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Mishra for eight weeks, which was later extended. The Court allowed him to reside in Delhi or Lucknow and imposed stringent conditions to ensure a fair trial. While converting the interim bail into an absolute one, the Court emphasized the importance of expediting the trial. It directed the trial court to prioritize this case and ensure the presence of at least five witnesses at each hearing.
Current Proceedings
The recent application alleging witness intimidation has prompted the Supreme Court to closely monitor the situation. The Courtās order underscores the seriousness of such allegations, especially in a case with significant public and legal implications.
Case Title: Ashish Mishra Alias Monu v. State of U.P., SLP(Crl) No. 7857/2022
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