Lakhimpur Kheri case: Ashish Mishra named prime accused as UP Police files 5,000-page chargesheet

In the Lakhimpur Kheri case, the Uttar Pradesh Police's special investigation team (SIT) on Monday filed a 5,000-page chargesheet before a local court, naming Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra as the prime accused..According to reports, the chargesheet has also named Virendra Shukla, a relative of Ashish Mishra, as an accused in the case. Shukla is charged under Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with causing disappearance of evidence."If the Court accepts the chargesheet, a trial in the instant case will start on the date given by the court," prosecution lawyer SP Yadav said..On October 5 last year, the UP Police lodged a first information report (FIR) in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri case in a four-wheeler owned by Mishra had allegedly mowed down eight people including farmers who were protesting against the three contentious Farm Laws.The FIR had been lodged against Ashish Mishra and other persons for offences under Sections 302 (murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 279 (rash driving), 338 (grievous hurt), 304-A (death by negligence), 147 (rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code 1860.The SIT probing the case had on December 15 stated before a local court that the whole incident was "pre-planned" with an intention to kill the protestors."It appears from the probe that...till now that the said act wasn't a negligent act committed by the accused, rather, it was done intentionally as per premeditated plan to kill...," the SIT has submitted before the Court.Through its application, the SIT thus sought to invoke fresh charges against the 12 accused in the case. It prayed that Section 304-A (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 279 (negligent driving), and Section 338 (causing grievous hurt) should be removed and substituted by Section 307 (attempt to murder), Section 326 (causing hurt with dangerous weapon), Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), and Sections 3 and 24 of Arms Act..The Supreme Court on November 17 had appointed former judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain to oversee the Lakhimpur Kheri violence probe.A Bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli had reconstituted the SIT tasked with probing the incident..Lakhimpur Kheri incident a pre-planned conspiracy: SIT says as UP Court allows fresh charges against accused