The Supreme Court has refused to grant any additional relaxation in the bail conditions imposed on Ashish Mishra, one of the principal accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, holding that there was no justification at this stage to modify the safeguards governing his release.
A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and K.V. Viswanathan was hearing Mishra’s application seeking further relaxation of the conditions attached to his bail. The Court, however, was not persuaded to dilute the restrictions and declined the request after considering the submissions advanced by the parties.
Mishra had earlier been granted interim bail subject to stringent conditions, including restrictions on his place of residence and an express direction not to influence witnesses or impede the progress of the trial. Over the course of the proceedings, the Supreme Court had modified certain conditions to enable him to attend to personal and medical exigencies within the National Capital Region, while continuing to monitor compliance with the bail terms.
During the latest hearing, counsel appearing for the victims opposed any further relaxation, contending that the existing conditions were necessary to preserve the integrity of the trial and ensure that witnesses remained free from any form of influence. The Court accepted that the safeguards already in place adequately balanced the interests of the accused with the need to ensure a fair criminal trial.
The case arises from the violence at Tikunia in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3, 2021, in which eight persons, including four farmers, lost their lives during protests. Mishra is facing prosecution on charges including murder, criminal conspiracy and other offences in connection with the incident.
The Supreme Court had earlier cancelled the bail granted to Mishra by the Allahabad High Court in 2022, observing that the victims had not been afforded an adequate opportunity to be heard. Following a fresh consideration by the High Court and subsequent proceedings before the apex court, Mishra was granted interim bail subject to strict conditions, which have remained under the Court’s supervision.
With the latest order, the Supreme Court has declined to alter those conditions any further, leaving the existing bail regime intact while the criminal trial continues before the competent court.
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