The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Ashish Mishra, the prime accused in mowing down of four farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh in October 202, to respond to the allegation that witnesses were being threatened.
Granting bail to Ashish Misra – son of former Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra – a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan also granted bail to farmers in the case and directed the trial court to expedite the hearing.
Ashish Mishra is the son of junior Union home minister Ajay Mishra Teni.
The top court directed that Ashish Mishra will not stay in Uttar Pradesh and NCT Delhi during interim bail and will leave Uttar Pradesh within one week of his release and shall not enter the State except for attending trial court proceedings.
Ashish is the main accused in the incident wherein a vehicle belonging to the Union minister allegedly mowed down four farmers during a protest against the now-repealed agricultural laws.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli noted that the victims have been denied a chance of an effective hearing and the high court overlooked relevant considerations.
Mishra was sent back to jail after a video clip showed him walking around under the custody of jail officials at the district hospital in Lakhimpur Kheri.
Ashish who was taken on police remand on Friday had complained of fever and his blood reports on Saturday confirmed that he was suffering from dengue.
Thursday is the last day of the police custody of Ashish Mishra and a huge police presence was seen at the crime scene.
"Till Ajay Misra does not resign from his post, the Youth Congress will continue its fight," said IYC national media in-charge Rahul Rao.
