Lakhimpur Kheri Violence Case: Allahabad High Court Grants Short-Term Bail To Accused Ankit Das Till March 20

The Allahabad High Court has granted short-term bail to Lakhimpur Kheri Violence Accused Ankit Das till March 20 on the ground of parity with the co-accused Ashish Mishra (who was granted 8 weeks interim bail by the Supreme Court last month).

The bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan ordered for his release on interim bail till March 20 on his filing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Court/Magistrate concerned.

The order of the Court subjects him to the same conditions as imposed upon Mishra by the Supreme Court in its 25 January order. Das has been directed to not enter the territory of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh during the period of interim bail.

Das is among the 13 men who have been accused of killing four farmers and a journalist in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. Das, who is the nephew of the former Union minister Akhilesh Das, and the SUV which was behind the Thar that knocked down the four farmers is said to be owned by him.

He has been booked under Sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 120-B, 307, 326/34, and 427/34 IPC read with Section 30 Arms Act and Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act and his bail plea had been filed, and rejected by the High Court in May 2022.

However, in September last year, he was granted short-term bail on medical grounds after his counsel submitted that he is facing multiple health issues and his health has deteriorated during his incarceration in jail since October 2021.

In related news, the Supreme Court last month directed Ashish Mishra to leave the State of Uttar Pradesh within one week of availing interim bail and directed him not to stay either in the State of UP or the NCT of Delhi during the period of interim bail.

He has to surrender his passport before the trial court and can enter the State of UP only to attend the trial court proceedings. Any attempt by Mishra, his family members, or supporters to influence or intimidate directly or indirectly witness will lead to cancellation of bail.

Advocates Salil Kumar Srivastava and Rahul Kumar Srivastava appeared for Das.