Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra (centre) and other accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case were produced in the Lakhimpur court. file | Photo Credit: PTI
On January 19, the Supreme Court reserved its decision on the bail plea of Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra, accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.
A division bench of Justice Suryakant and Justice JK Maheshwari heard the arguments of Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh Garima Prasad and senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Dushyant Dave.
“We will pass orders,” the bench said.
Opposing the bail plea, Ms Prasad told the top court that the offense was serious.
“It is a serious and heinous crime and [granting bail] Wrong message will go in the society,” she said.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for those opposing the bail plea, said that granting bail would send a terrible message to the society.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Mr. Ashish Mishra, strongly opposed the submission of Mr. Dave and submitted that his client has been in custody for more than a year and the way the trial is going on, it would take more than seven years to complete it. It will take eight years. , He said that the complainant in the case, Jagjit Singh, is not an eye-witness and his complaint is based only on hearsay.
On October 3, 2021, eight people were killed in Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri district in violence that broke out when farmers were protesting, after Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya visited the area.
As per the FIR of the Uttar Pradesh Police, four farmers were crushed to death by an SUV in which Mr. Ashish Mishra was sitting. Following the incident, angry farmers allegedly lynched a driver and two BJP workers. A journalist also died in the violence.