Supreme Court Questions Compliance with Bail Terms in Lakhimpur Kheri Case

The Supreme Court has raised concerns regarding the compliance of Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, with the conditions of his interim bail. Mishra, who is implicated in a case involving the fatal mowing down of farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri in October 2021, allegedly participated in a public event distributing tricycles, despite restrictions only allowing him to attend trial proceedings. Justices Surya Kant and PS Narasimha have permitted advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the victims’ families, to file evidence showing Mishra’s attendance at the event, potentially breaching bail conditions.

During the proceedings, Bhushan expressed his intent to submit an affidavit, backed by video evidence, to demonstrate the violation of the Supreme Court’s order. In contrast, Ashish Mishra’s legal representative, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, argued that his client wouldn’t recklessly jeopardize his freedom, suggesting a discrepancy between verbal assertions and documented evidence. The court refrained from issuing a formal order but encouraged Bhushan to proceed with the affidavit submission.

The case has seen periodic extensions of Mishra’s bail since its initial grant in January 2023, alongside directives for a swift trial and routine reporting from the trial’s presiding officer. The latest report highlighted issues in witness attendance, prompting the Supreme Court to suggest that local authorities and the public prosecutor intensify their efforts to ensure witness presence, thereby avoiding delays in the judicial process. The court has also instructed the Supreme Court registry to relay the trial judge’s concerns to Uttar Pradesh’s additional advocate-general for necessary action.

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