The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the interim bail granted to Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, for his alleged involvement in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case of 2021 that led to the death of eight people, including four farmers.
The order was passed by the Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta, after taking note of the submissions made by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi.
Representing Mishra, the Senior Advocate submitted that the proceedings were going smoothly in the case.
Rohatgi said the witnesses from both the sides were being examined by the court, adding that several reports have been filed in connection with the case.
While keeping the bail application of Mishra pending, the Supreme Court observed that it was doing so to oversee the progress of the trial and the conduct of the accused.
The Bench then listed the matter for further hearing on September 26.
Earlier on March 14, the top court of the country had maintained status quo on the regular bail application of Ashish Mishra.
While observing that the trial was proceeding on the right path, the Apex Court noted that it was receiving regular reports from the Trial Judge regarding the trial and cross examination of witnesses.
It directed the Trial Court to continue apprising it with future progress in the case and directed the Registry to post the matter for further hearing.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the families of victim farmers, expressed concern over the slow pace of trial.
The Bench, while refusing to agree with Bhushan, said the progress reports of trial court judges showed otherwise. It noted that the chief examination of three witnesses had been completed, adding that only on one day during the trial, the Presiding Officer was not available.
The Apex Court said it did not want to use the term ‘monitoring,’ but that it was having an ‘indirect supervision’ over the trial.
The Bench, while noting that it had gone through three additional letters related to the case, ordered that interim directions would continue till the next date of hearing.
Earlier on January 25, the Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice J.K. Maheshwari had granted interim bail of eight weeks to Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, for his alleged involvement in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case of 2021 that led to the death of eight people, including four farmers.
The top court of the country had observed that it was not expressing final opinion on the regular bail plea of Mishra and other petitioners, but passing an interim order, taking in view the concerns for fair trial of petitioners and their right to liberty under Article 21, which had to be balanced with the right of the State.
The Apex Court, while keeping the regular bail application filed by Mishra pending, granted him interim bail. It then directed the Registry to list the matter for March 14 for directions after the trial court sent a report on the status of witnesses being examined.