Supreme Court To UP After Attack Charge

Lakhimpur case: Ashish Mishra was granted bail on February 10

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and asked it to file a reply on a plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to Lakhimpur Kheri violence accused Ashish Mishra, who is the son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra.

Taking note of the alleged attack on a witness, a bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana directed the state government to take necessary steps to ensure the protection of witnesses in the case.

The Supreme Court will hear the matter next on March 24.

Supreme Court To UP After Attack Charge

On Tuesday, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for some farmers, had informed the court that there was an attack on one of the prime witnesses of the case.

Mr Bhushan also said other accused in the matter were also approaching the Allahabad high court for bail seeking parity with the prime accused.

A single-judge bench of the Allahabad high court, on February 10, had granted bail to Mr Mishra.

Three family members of farmers who were killed in the violence have sought a stay on the bail order of the high court, saying the verdict was “unsustainable in the eyes of law as there has been no meaningful and effective assistance by the state to the court in the matter”.

On October 3, last year, eight people were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri during violence that erupted when farmers were protesting against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the area.