Bail was granted to Ashish Mishra, son of Union minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’. The Allahabad high court considered “irrelevant factors” and showed “unwarranted hurry” in granting relief to the main accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. A bench, led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, directed Mishra to surrender within a week.
The bench said the high court erroneously relied heavily on the first information report at the time of allowing Mishra’s bail plea. The bench, which also included justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, said the next of kin of those killed in the violence deserved a hearing.
A Supreme Court bench has set up a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the 2021 violence in the western Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Eight people were killed in the violence, including three members of the ruling BJP-affiliated Sambharatiya Janata Party (SP) alliance.
