The top court had said that though it is not monitoring the trial, it is “indirectly monitoring” the matter. (PTI photo)
The apex court said that it would not be possible to direct the trial court to conduct day-to-day hearing in the matter as it would delay other matters.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended till September 26 the interim bail of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son Ashish, who is facing prosecution in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta noted that the hearing in the matter is going on and adjourned the matter.
The apex court had on April 24 said that it would not be possible to direct the trial court to conduct day-to-day hearing in the matter as it may affect other cases pending there.
While hearing the matter on March 14, the top court had said that the trial of the case was not “slow paced” and directed the concerned sessions judge to keep it informed about the future developments in the trial.
The apex court had said that though it is not monitoring the trial, it has “indirect monitoring” over it.
It had said that the interim directions contained in its January 25 order, by which it had granted interim bail to Ashish Mishra for eight weeks in the case, would remain in force.
The court had also directed Ashish Mishra to leave Uttar Pradesh within a week of his release from jail.
On October 3, 2021, eight people died after violence broke out at Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri district, when farmers were protesting against the visit of then Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Police’s FIR, four farmers were run over by an SUV in which Ashish Mishra was sitting. Following the incident, angry farmers allegedly lynched the driver of the SUV and two BJP workers. A journalist also died in the violence.
In its January 25 order, the apex court had exercised its “suo motu constitutional powers” and directed that the four accused – Gurvinder Singh, Kamaljit Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Vichitra Singh – be booked in a separate FIR on murder. Was arrested in connection with. The three people in the SUV that allegedly crushed the farmers there should be released on interim bail till further orders.
While granting interim bail of eight weeks to Ashish Mishra, the bench had said that any attempt by him, his family or supporters to influence or threaten witnesses directly or indirectly would lead to cancellation of interim bail.
It said that Ashish Mishra, after being released on interim bail, shall surrender his passport to the trial court within a week and shall not enter Uttar Pradesh except to attend the trial proceedings.
The top court had also said that he would disclose his residence to the trial court as well as to the jurisdictional police station where he would be staying during the period of interim bail.
The apex court had said, “The trial court shall send a progress report to this court after each date of hearing, along with details of witnesses examined on each date.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,