The Supreme Court on Monday extended the interim bail granted to Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra. He is facing prosecution in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. In July, 2023, the Supreme Court extended the interim bail till September 26, 2023.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice K.V. Viswanathan observed that it seems that no report has been received from the trial court after the previous order dated 26th September 2023. The bench directed the registry to obtain a report and post the matter on date. It mentioned that the interim direction will continue.
Earlier on September 26, 2023, the Supreme Court had relaxed the bail conditions of Ashish Mishra to enable him to visit and stay in the National Capital Region to look after his ailing mother and for the treatment of his daughter.
Previously, while granting him bail, the apex court imposed certain conditions. The Supreme Court ordered that Mishra could not stay in the state of Uttar Pradesh or Delhi-NCR and he will have to inform the court about his location. The court mentioned that any attempt by him or his family to influence witnesses would lead to cancellation of his bail. The court also made Mishra surrender his passport. The top court had relaxed the interim bail conditions imposed on Mishra by the trial court on January 25.
The matter relates to an incident of violence on October 3, 2021, in which eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. Reportedly, four farmers were mowed down by a sports utility vehicle (SUV). A driver and two BJP workers were then allegedly lynched by angry farmers. In addition, a journalist also died in the violence that triggered outrage among opposition parties and the farmer groups agitating over the Centre’s now-repealed agriculture laws.