Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: District Court Denies Bail To Union Minister's Son Ashish Mishra, 2 Others

A court in Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh) on Monday rejected the bail petitions of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra 'Teni's son, Ashish Misra, Ashish Pandey, and Luvkush Rana in the case registered against them in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri Violence incident.

Earlier, Misra's bail had been denied by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lakhimpur Kheri, Chinta Ram.

Sessions Judge Mukesh Mishra turned down their bail pleas after the prosecution presented the case diary, 60 eyewitnesses' statements, and ballistic reports of 4 firearms to establish their involvement in the crime.

As per the report of Indian Express, the district government counsel Arvind Tripathi said that while rejecting the bail pleas of the three accused, the court said that the case is of serious nature and that the investigation is currently on. 

On October 9, he had appeared before the Crime Branch office in Lakhimpur Kheri pursuant to a notice issued to him by the UP Police. Thereafter, he was arrested and sent to the Lakhimpur jail at around 1 am on Sunday (October 10) after 12 hours of questioning.

Background of the Case

On October 3, several farmers were holding protests against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Lakhimpur Kheri district, when four protesting farmers were killed after they were mowed down by an SUV.

Allegedly, the SUV was part of the convoy of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and BJP MP Ajay Kumar Mishra.

The police filed a first information report against Ashish Mishra (son of minister Ajay Kumar Mishra) and several others in connection with the violence under Section 302 IPC.

An alleged video of the incident has also surfaced in social media showing a group of protesters moving forward on a road next to farm fields and then being mowed down by a grey SUV that speeds up from behind.

On November 8th, the Supreme Court had expressed its dissatisfaction with the Uttar Pradesh Police probe and said that it was proposing to appoint a retired judge from a High Court of another state to monitor the investigation.

Yesterday, the State of Uttar Pradesh informed the Supreme Court that it is agreeable to the appointment of a retired judge to monitor the investigation in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

Taking note of this, a bench comprising the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli listed the matter to Wednesday to decide the name of the judge.

Read more about the case here: Lakhimpur Kheri : UP Govt Agrees To Appointment Of Retired Judge To Monitor Probe; Supreme Court Wants SIT Upgraded With IPS Officers