Lakhimpur Kheri case: SC allows Ashish Mishra to visit native place for one week for daughter’s exam

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Ashish Mishra, son of former union minister Ajay Mishra and an accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, to travel to his hometown between December 25 and 31 to be with his daughter ahead of her Class 12 board exams.

The top court had on October 9 allowed Mishra to travel to his hometown Lakhimpur Kheri on October 20 to celebrate Diwali along with his family members.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Mishra, and allowed the plea and reiterated that the earlier bail conditions, including no political participation, would continue to apply.

During the brief hearing, the CJI noted the status of the ongoing trial against Mishra and others, and said 36 witnesses have been examined and 85 are still to be examined.

Similarly in another trial pertaining to the other FIR, 35 witnesses are yet to be examined.

The Uttar Pradesh Additional Advocate General told the bench that 789 trials are pending before the same judge who is hearing this case.

The bench said that various special courts are overburdened and said the issues will be taken up holistically in March, 2026.

Earlier, while allowing Mishra to travel to his home town, the bench had said the prior bail conditions that political workers or the public shall not be associated with such celebrations in any capacity will be imposed.

The top court had directed Mishra to stay out of Lakhimpur till the pendency of the trial in the case. On January 20, the top court sought a report from the state police after allegations, accusing Mishra of influencing witnesses in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, surfaced.

Mishra had denied the allegations and said every time the matter was listed, such averments were made for the cancellation of his bail granted by the top court.

The apex court granted him bail on July 22 last year and restricted his movements in Delhi and Lucknow.

On October 3, 2021, eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri district during a protest by farmers against Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the area.

Four farmers were mowed down by a sports utility vehicle.

A driver and two BJP workers were then allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A journalist also died in the violence.

The trial court in December 2023 framed charges against Mishra and 12 others for murder, criminal conspiracy and under other penal laws in the case of the farmers’ deaths, paving the way for the trial of the case.