Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec 11: The Additional Sessions Judge in Lakhimpur Kheri was directed by the Supreme Court on Monday to find out how long the trial in the case involving the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri is likely to last before it is over.
The decision was made on a bail request made by Ashish Mishra, the main suspect in the violence that occurred in Lakhimpur Kheri in 2021 and resulted in the deaths of 8 people who were protesting the Central Government’s farm laws and who were run over by a four-wheeler that was allegedly being driven by Mishra.
“The Registrar Judicial is directed to find out from the first Addl Sessions judge at Lakhimpur Kheri as to how much time the trial is likely to take without compromising with other pending or prioritised matters. A tentative schedule shall be submitted as to this case being tried on an out-of-turn basis,” the Court directed.
The Court further ordered the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit a new affidavit outlining the course and speed of the inquiry and procedures related to Jaiswal’s complaint.
On October 3 of last year, while farmers were protesting the now-repealed farm rules, violence broke out in Lakhimpur Kheri and eight people were killed. Keshav Prasad Maurya, the deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had intended to visit the region to attend an event when the protesters got in the way. Eight people, including the farmers who were protesting, were allegedly run over and killed by a four-wheeler belonging to Mishra.
Following his detention, Mishra was named as the primary culprit in a 5,000-page chargesheet submitted to a local court by the Uttar Pradesh Police’s special investigation team (SIT). After a trial court denied his bail request in November, Mishra petitioned the High Court.
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On February 10 of this year, the High Court initially granted bail to Mishra on the grounds that it was possible the driver of the car that ran over the farmers in protest had sped up to protect himself.
The bail granted to Mishra by the High Court was then revoked by the Supreme Court in April, and the case was sent back to the High Court for further review. The High Court denied Mishra bail on July 26, which led to the current appeal before the Supreme Court. In September of this year, the top court requested the UP government’s response to the issue.
