The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Ashish Mishra, son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra, to visit his hometown Lakhimpur Kheri for brief family visits each weekend, under strict conditions.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh permitted Mishra to travel from Lucknow to Lakhimpur Kheri every Saturday evening and return by Sunday daytime. The Court made it clear that these visits are solely for private time with his family and barred him from attending any public events or gatherings during his stay.
Ashish Mishra is accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, where a convoy allegedly led by him ran over protesting farmers, resulting in 8 deaths. The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to his arrest.
Conditional Bail & Ongoing Trial
The court had initially granted interim bail to Mishra on January 25, 2023, for 8 weeks, with extensions granted since then. The bail order included several strict conditions—he must report his location to the relevant court and avoid influencing witnesses or interfering with the ongoing trial. The Court warned that any breach, especially attempts to tamper with evidence or delay proceedings, would result in bail cancellation.
Witness Examination
During the latest hearing, the Uttar Pradesh government informed the Court that 16 of the 208 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far, including 10 of the injured victims. The Court advised the prosecution to review the witness list and consider dropping non-essential witnesses to speed up the trial.
“The counsel further points that the public prosecutor would examine the list to find out whether some of the witnesses who may be found unnecessary shall be dropped,” the bench recorded in its order.
Possible Easing Of Bail Conditions Later
Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Mishra, suggested that the Court may consider relaxing Mishra’s bail conditions further if his behavior during family visits remains appropriate. The Court acknowledged the submission and said it would revisit the matter in due course.
The case is scheduled to be taken up again after the summer break.
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