New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday (May 8) allowed Ashish Mishra, son of former Union minister Ajay Mishra and an accused in 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case in which eight persons were killed during protest against now-repealed farm laws, to visit Lakhimpur Kheri to meet his family every Saturday evening and return back to Lucknow Sunday evening.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh modified an earlier order on an application moved by Mishra. The earlier order prohibited Mishra from entering Lakhimpur Kheri except for trial.
Mishra shall not participate in public meeting or political activities: Apex Court
The top court, however, made it clear that while in Lakhimpur Kheri, Mishra shall not participate in public meeting or political activities and his visit shall be private and only for family members.
“The order is modified to the extent that petitioner (Mishra) is permitted to visit Lakhimpur Kheri every Saturday evening and spend time with family till Sunday day. He will return to Lucknow sunday evening. While in Lakhimpur Kheri the petitioner shall not participate in public meeting or political activities. Visit shall be private only for family members,” the apex court said.
Apex Court granted Ashish Mishra regular bail in the case last year
The apex court granted Ashish Mishra interim bail in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case in January 2023 and the top court, while granting him interim bail, imposed certain conditions on him. The conditions included to not stay either in Uttar Pradesh or in National Capital Region (NCR) during the period and not to enter Uttar Pradesh except for attending the trial. The apex court on July 22 last year granted him regular bail and permitted him to stay either in Delhi or Lucknow and allowed him to visit Lakhimpur Kheri for trial.
8 persons, including 4 farmers, lost their lives in Lakhimpur Khiri violence in 2021
Eight persons, including four farmers, were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3, 2021 during a protest by farmers against Centre’s now-repealed farm laws. Four farmers were allegedly mowed down by a sports utility vehicle and two BJP workers and a driver lost their lives in the subsequent violence and a journalist was the eighth victim.
