The Supreme Court has directed Ashish Mishra, the prime accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, to respond to allegations of witness intimidation.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan instructed Mishra’s counsel to submit a counter affidavit addressing these claims and scheduled the matter for hearing in four weeks. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Mishra, denied the accusations and argued that such allegations arise whenever the case is discussed.
Previously, the Supreme Court adjusted Mishra’s interim bail conditions, allowing him to reside in Delhi or Lucknow while mandating expedited trial proceedings. The court also made it clear that any attempt to influence witnesses or delay the trial could result in the cancellation of his bail.
Mishra, son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra, has been on interim bail since January 2023, initially granted for eight weeks and extended multiple times.
The Lakhimpur Kheri incident, which occurred on October 3, 2021, involved the killing of eight individuals, including four farmers who were allegedly run over by a vehicle belonging to Mishra. The farmers were protesting against the central government’s farm laws at the time.
Following the incident, Mishra was arrested on October 9, 2021, and later granted bail by the Allahabad High Court in February 2022. However, the Supreme Court overturned this decision in April 2022, citing flaws in the High Court’s ruling and ordering a fresh review of his bail plea.
Victims' families have consistently opposed Mishra’s bail, expressing concerns about potential threats and delays in the judicial process. The Supreme Court had earlier appointed a monitoring committee led by retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Rakesh Kumar Jain to oversee the investigation.
In its latest order, the court reaffirmed its stance on ensuring a fair and expeditious trial while addressing concerns over witness safety.
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