The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) it had appointed to monitor the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which eight people were killed, has recommended the cancellation of bail granted to main accused Ashish Mishra.
A three-Judge Special Bench, led by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, said the SIT, headed by a retired SC Judge, has recommended the State of Uttar Pradesh to file an appeal against bail granted to Ashish, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
The Apex Court sought response from the Yogi Adityanath-led UP government on two reports submitted by the SIT, in the case. The matter will now be heard on Monday.
The Uttar Pradesh government had apprised the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the decision regarding the challenge to bail granted to Ashish Mishra in the Lakhmipur Kheri case of October 2021 was “pending consideration before the relevant authorities”.
While filing a counter-affidavit before the Apex Court, in response to the petition of family members of the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident against the Allahabad High Court verdict, the government rejected the allegation that it had not effectively opposed Mishra’s bail before the High Court.
The government response was filed by the Joint Secretary to the Home Department of the UP Government.
On March 16, the Supreme Court had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a detailed affidavit on Lakhimpur Kheri incident, narrating the steps taken to protect the witnesses and also explain why bail granted to accused Ashish Mishra should be not cancelled.