12 Feb 2024 7:47 AM GMT
The Supreme Court today extended the interim bail granted earlier to Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra in the Lakhimpur Kheri case concerning the killings of four farmers in October 2021.
The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan noted that since the last date of hearing ie September 26, 2023, no Report had been received from the Trial Court on the progress of the case. Considering, it directed the Registry to obtain the same.
To recap, the case emanates from the killing of 8 persons (4 farmers, a journalist, and 3 BJP workers) in October 2021, when vehicles of Mishra's convoy allegedly ran over a group of farmers in Uttar Pradesh who were protesting against the farm laws.
Initially, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Mishra on February 10, 2022, but it was set aside by the Supreme Court in April 2022 noting that the High Court took into account irrelevant considerations and ignored relevant factors.
The bail application was remanded to the High Court. Against the High Court's order, the relatives of the farmers who got killed in the incident appealed before the Supreme Court.
On January 25, 2023, the top Court granted the benefit of interim bail to Mishra, directing that he leave Uttar Pradesh within 1 week of availing interim bail and not stay either in UP or Delhi during the operation of the relief. Vide this order, the Trial Court was also directed to send progress reports to the top Court after every date of hearing, along with details of witnesses examined on each date.
On the last date of hearing, Mishra's bail conditions were relaxed, allowing him to stay in Delhi, taking into account his plea to take care of his ailing mother and daughter.
Today, keeping in view the fact that no progress report had been received from the Trial Court, the matter had to be adjourned.
Case Title: Ashish Mishra Alias Monu v. State of U.P. SLP(Crl) No. 7857/2022