SC cancels bail of minister’s son in Lakhimpur farmers’ killing case

The Supreme Court on Monday (April 18) cancelled the bail granted by the Allahabad High Court to Ashish Mishra, son of Union minister Ajay Mishra, in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

The Allahabad High Court had granted bail to Mishra on February 10, when the campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls was at its peak. The petition was challenged by the families of farmers who were mowed down allegedly by Mishra’s convoy on October 3 at Lakhimpur Kheri.

On Monday, a special Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli also asked the accused to surrender in a weeks’ time.

The top court on April 4 had reserved its order on a plea of farmers seeking cancellation of bail to Mishra.

Also read: UP govt to SC: ‘Vehemently opposed’ Ashish Mishra’s bail

On October 3 last year, eight people were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri during violence that erupted when farmers were protesting against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the area. Four farmers were mowed down by an SUV, in which Ashish Mishra was seated, according to the Uttar Pradesh Police FIR.

Following the incident, the driver and two BJP workers were allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A journalist also died in the violence that triggered outrage among opposition parties and farmer groups agitating over the Centres now-repealed agricultural reform laws.

(With inputs from agencies)