New Delhi: The Allahabad High Court will pronounce its judgment on the plea blea of Ashish Mishra, son of Union MoS Ajay Mishra and the main accused in Lakhimpur Kheri violence cases which claimed the lives of six people. A bench of Justice Krishna Pahal had reserved its order on July 15 after completing the hearing and will deliver the verdict today.
Ashish Mishra was granted bail by the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court on February 10, 2022 but the kin of victims challenged the order in the Supreme Court after which the apex court overturned the verdict and cancelled the bail. It also directed the High Court to decide his bail plea after affording adequate opportunity to the victim side.
Accordingly, the HC heard his bail plea afresh.
Meanwhile, on May 9, the High Court rejected the bail pleas of co-accused Lavkush, Ankit Das, Sumit Jaiswal, and Shishupal.
While rejecting their pleas, the High Court had observed that the four accused were actively involved in planning and participation in the heinous offence committed in a "cruel and inhuman manner" and as such did not deserve bail.
The bench had further observed, "These four accused and the main accused, Ashish Mishra alias Monu belonged to very influential political families as said and apprehension of the prosecution that they would interfere with the course of justice, tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses, cannot be ruled out at this stage."
Ashish Mishra is a co-accused in connection with the killing of four farmers and a journalist at Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on October 3 last year. The farmers and the journalist were mowed down by a speeding vehicle. In the ensuing violence, two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and the driver of a vehicle were also killed by an agitated mob.
Two FIRs were lodged in connection with the violence.
(with PTI inputs)