The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail for eight weeks to Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra, who is accused of killing farmers by running them over with his car in Lakhimpur Kheri during the 2021 farmers’ protest.A Bench led by Justice Surya Kant — which had on January 19 reserved its order on the bail plea of Ashish Mishra — asked Ashish Mishra to leave Uttar Pradesh within a week of his release.
The Bench said he could not stay in UP or NCT of Delhi and would inform the trial court about his location and had to mark his attendance in the police station of the jurisdiction of his location.Any attempt by Mishra or his family to influence witnesses would lead to cancellation of bail, the top court said.
It said if it’s found that he was trying to delay the trial, it would be a valid ground to cancel his interim bail.It also granted interim bail to the other four co-accused, using suo motu powers.Awaiting the trial court’s report on the status of witnesses being examined, it posted the matter for March 14. After examining his conduct, the top court will decide on extending his bail.”It is about balancing the rights of parties. There should not be indefinite incarceration,” the Bench had said on January 19, noting that the trial might take five years to conclude.
Four farmers were mowed down by an SUV in Lakhimpur Kheri when those against farm laws were holding a demonstration against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit on October 3, 2021. In the subsequent violence, two BJP workers, a driver and a journalist were killed. It was alleged that Ashish was sitting in one of the cars.
