New Delhi – The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Ashish Mishra, the main suspect in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, to celebrate Diwali in his hometown.
The Court’s decision, issued by a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh, lets Mishra visit Lakhimpur Kheri only with close family and close relatives. He must return to Lucknow by October 22. Political workers and the public are barred from taking part in any celebrations.
The order also reviewed the progress of the case. Sri prosecution witnesses have been examined: 23 were heard, 9 were dropped, 2 remain unserved, and the rest have been summoned for a hearing on October 27. The Lakhimpur Kheri Superintendent of Police reported that an FIR has been filed against Mishra and his father for allegedly intimidating a witness. A designation of a DSP officer was directed to investigate the matter, and the Court ordered the investigation’s status be brought on record.
In a prior hearing, the Court urged the prosecution to trim the list of formal witnesses to speed up the trial. It also confirmed the interim bail it had granted in July last year and asked the trial court to fast‑track proceedings.
The interim bail, issued in January 2023, carried strict conditions: Mishra had to leave Uttar Pradesh within a week of his release, could not stay in UP or Delhi/NCR, must keep the court updated on his whereabouts, and any attempts to influence witnesses would lead to bail revocation. He had to surrender his passport and could only enter UP to attend trial. Those who felt Mishra was misusing the bail could promptly inform the apex court.
The Court later relaxed these conditions, allowing Mishra to stay in Lucknow or Delhi and permitting him to visit family every Saturday evening, provided he returned to Lucknow by Sunday daytime.
The Lakhimpur Kheri violence erupted in October 2021 when farmers protested against the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya. Eight people were killed when an SUV – in which Mishra was seated – ran over four farmers in Tikunia, according to police reports.
Source: ianslive
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