Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Allahabad High Court grants bail to 12 accused

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday granted regular bail to a total of 12 accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case in which Ashish Mishra, son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra, is the main accused.

Justice Krishan Pahal noted that people involved in the violence had "admittedly" not observed restraint and there was a cross-version against the allegations of complainants.

It further observed that a significant number of witnesses remain to be examined with no likelihood of the trial concluding in the near future.

"The Court finds it to be a fit case for bail. Accordingly, the bail applications are hereby allowed," the Court ordered.

Pertinently, Mishra, the main accused, is already on bail in the case. While granting relief to the 12 co-accused, the High Court said their case is on a better footing than his as they were not named in the FIR.

The accused, who were granted relief today, had been granted interim bail by the High Court on different dates last year.

"It is settled principle of law that the object of bail is to secure the attendance of the accused at the trial. No material particulars or circumstances suggestive of the applicant fleeing from justice or thwarting the course of justice or creating other troubles in the shape of repeating offences or intimidating witnesses and the like have been shown by learned AGA or the counsel for informant," Justice Pahal said while allowing the bail pleas of accused.

Mishra is accused of killing at least four farmers who had assembled in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh in 2021 to protest against the now revoked farm laws.

A total of eight people including a journalist were killed in the violence.

In January 2023, the Supreme Court granted Mishra interim bail for 8 weeks in the case. The same was later extended with the bench receiving progress reports of the trial from the concerned judge.

Ultimately, Mishra was granted absolute bail on July 22 this year.

Advocates Vaibhav Kalia, Salil Kumar Srivastava and Manish Mani Sharma represented the accused.

Advocates Ajai Kumar and Vivek Kumar represented the informant.

Advocate Parul Kant represented the State.

[Read Order]