The Supreme Court has decided not to revoke the bail of Ashish Mishra, son of former Union minister Ajay Mishra, in connection with the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. This decision comes after a detailed review of a report submitted by the Uttar Pradesh Police, which found no substantial evidence to support allegations of bail condition violations.
Justices Surya Kant and N K Singh, who presided over the bench, had previously directed the police to investigate claims that Mishra was seen at a public event on October 2, 2024, potentially violating the terms of his bail. Additionally, there were concerns about an attempt to influence Tejinder Singh, a key witness in the case. However, the police report clarified that these allegations were unfounded, notably pointing out that images from 2021 were mistakenly used to suggest Mishra’s presence at the 2024 event.
The case traces back to October 3, 2021, when four anti-farm law protesters were tragically killed by a convoy that included a vehicle registered to Ashish Mishra’s father. The incident also resulted in the deaths of two BJP workers, a vehicle driver, and a journalist amidst ensuing violence.
During the court session, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners seeking to cancel Mishra’s bail, highlighted an audio recording that he claimed demonstrated efforts to influence witness Tejinder Singh. However, the court dismissed the relevance of this recording, noting that Singh had already completed his testimony. The justices granted Singh the liberty to file a complaint, which the court assured would be investigated impartially, irrespective of the initial police findings.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Mishra, emphasized the baseless nature of the allegations and lamented the misuse of judicial and police resources. In response, Justice Kant humorously remarked on the emotional pleas often seen in criminal cases, affirming the rejection of the allegations against Mishra.
Additionally, the court acceded to a request from Mishra’s counsel, allowing him to visit Lakhimpur Kheri for the Ram Navami festival, with strict instructions to limit the celebration to close family and relatives, avoiding any political or public associations. Mishra is required to return to Lucknow by April 7.
