New Delhi, Jul 16 Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday told the Supreme Court that former minister Ajay Mishra and his son Ashish, accused in the killing of four people in Lakhimpur Kheri in 2021, were not involved in the alleged intimidation of witnesses and not chargesheeted for it.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was also informed that the trial in the case is likely to conclude within the next three months.
The bench adjourned the hearing on Ashish Mishra's bail plea after taking note of progress of the trial and the fresh status report filed before it. The matter has now been listed for hearing next month.
“The chargesheet has been filed against one Amandeep Singh. Cognizance has been taken. As regards the role of Ajay Mishra, Ashish Mishra and… the investigation reveals that they were not involved in the alleged offence,” the bench noted.
On October 3, 2021, eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Tikunia in Uttar Pradesh's 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 Mishras and others were accused of intimidating witnesses of the main violence incident.
On Thursday, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Ashish Mishra, submitted before the apex court that the latest status report showed that investigation in the separate FIR on alleged witness intimidation had been completed and neither of the Mishras were found to be involved.
"Now that the chargesheet has been filed, we have been absolved. If anyone has any grievance, they have remedies before the magistrate. It cannot be kept alive here."
The bench also took note of the updated status of the ongoing trial in the main Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, which indicated that 62 witnesses remain to be examined.
Dave said the trial was expected to conclude within approximately three months.
On May 8 this year, the apex court had expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of proceedings after noting that no witness had been examined for two months.
It directed the trial judge to take effective measures to secure the presence of witnesses and make every endeavour to conclude the trial in a time-bound manner, while directing Uttar Pradesh authorities to file periodic status reports.
In December 2023, the trial court framed charges against Ashish Mishra and 12 others, including charges of murder, criminal conspiracy and other offences, paving the way for the commencement of the trial in the main case.
