The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed displeasure over the Uttar Pradesh Police’s handling of a complaint made by a prosecution witness in the high-profile Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.
The court criticised the police for not acting on the witness’s claim of being threatened, stating that officials should have taken proactive steps instead of waiting for him to appear.
Witness Alleges Pressure To Withhold Testimony
Baljinder Singh, a key prosecution witness, had earlier informed the court that he was being pressured not to testify in the case involving Ashish Mishra—son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra. Mishra is accused of mowing down protesting farmers with an SUV during a demonstration against the Centre’s farm laws in Lakhimpur Kheri in October 2021.
In response to Singh’s allegation, the top court had on March 24 allowed him to approach the local police and file a formal complaint.
UP Government’s Defence Falls Short
On Thursday, a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and N Kotiswar Singh was told by the UP government that Singh had not turned up before the police despite being summoned by the Superintendent of Police (SP), and had also refused to disclose his identity.
The explanation, however, failed to satisfy the bench. The judges remarked that if the witness was reluctant to approach the police, then senior officers could have taken the initiative to reach out to him and record his statement.
The court directed the SP to submit an affidavit confirming the status of Singh’s complaint after due verification.
Trial Court Urged To Maximise Witness Examination
During the hearing, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the victims, requested the court to direct that the trial be conducted on a day-to-day basis. While the bench did not accept the request for daily proceedings, it urged the trial court in Uttar Pradesh to examine “as many witnesses as possible” on the scheduled hearing dates.
The next hearing in the trial is set for August 20.
Ashish Mishra’s Bail & Movement Conditions
Ashish Mishra was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on January 25, 2023, for a period of eight weeks, with stringent conditions to prevent any interference with the ongoing trial. The bail has since been extended multiple times.
As per earlier court orders, Mishra is required to keep the trial court informed about his location and must refrain from attempting to influence witnesses. The bench had clearly stated that any such attempt could result in bail cancellation.
In May 2025, the court allowed Mishra limited visits to Lakhimpur Kheri to meet his family—permitting stays from Saturday evening to Sunday daytime—under the condition that he would not participate in public gatherings or political events.
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