Lakhimpur Kheri: The Supreme Court-appointed committee has filed its status report in the Lakhimpur Kheri case. It said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case had recommended the cancellation of the bail granted to prime accused Ashish Mishra twice to the Uttar Pradesh government. The SC has now reserved its verdict on the plea to cancel the bail granted to Ashish Mishra in the Lakhimpur Kheri case.
Its report also stated that evidence substantiated that Ashish Misra, son of Union minister Ajay Misra Teni, was at the spot of the violence that killed eight people, and knew about the change in the route taken by UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on October 3, the day of the incident, to attend a function.
Ashish Misra was accused of running over farmers who were in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh while they staged a demonstration against Maurya’s visit. The farmers had been protesting against the three farm laws, which were later repealed by the Centre.
The Supreme Court on March 30 had questioned the Uttar Pradesh administration for not cancelling the bail of Ashish Misra, the prime accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, as per the recommendation of the special investigation team.
Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for Ashish Misra, said, “At this stage, we cannot say whether there was any intent. The SIT in its recommendation asked us to file a special leave petition on grounds that there was a danger of witness tampering, which did not sit with us. Please see our affidavit.” “Bail is not punitive. If this was a heinous case and had he been a repeat offender, bail should not have been granted. But that is not the case,” he said.
“Our affidavit says that the families of all victims and all witnesses have been receiving continuous protection under the witness protection scheme. Each witness has a gunner, security, CCTV cameras and barrier security. Police personnel have been brought in from other districts and Uttarakhand,” Jethmalani said. “Witnesses are being regularly contacted by the police,” he added.
The petitioners’ lawyer, Dushyant Dave, argued: “Mr Jethmalani is ignoring the fact that one of the key eyewitnesses was accosted by supporters of the accused and beaten up. He filed an FIR specifically naming persons who threatened him.”
“The state wishes away the inquiry by saying it was something because of the Holi celebrations. What’s the purpose of contacting witnesses on the phone. Is it sufficient to say we [state] have provided security,” he asked.
Ashish Misra was arrested on October 9 last year in connection with the violence that erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri. On October 3, 2021, eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri in clashes during a farmers’ protest.
He was released from jail after he was granted bail by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. Ashish Misra’s lawyers submitted two bail bonds of Rs 3 lakh each in regards to his bail orders on February 14. India Today
