Lakhimpur Kheri: Allahabad High Court reserves verdict in Ashish Mishra bail plea

The Allahabad High Court this week reserved its verdict in the bail application filed by the son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, Ashish Mishra, who is the prime accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which eight people were killed (Ashish Mishra @Monu v. State of Uttar Pradesh)..On October 3 last year, eight people were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri during violence that erupted when farmers were protesting against the now revoked Farm Laws. The protests had impeded the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who planned to attend an event in the area. A four-wheeler belonging to Mishra allegedly mowed down and killed eight persons, including the protesting farmers.After he was arrested, the Uttar Pradesh Police's special investigation team (SIT) filed a 5,000-page chargesheet before a local court, naming Mishra as the prime accused in the case. In November, a trial court had rejected his application for bail, thus prompting Mishra to move the High Court..Before the High Court, counsel for Mishra had submitted that he was innocent and that there was no evidence to show that he incited the driver of the vehicle to crush/hit the protesting farmers and others. Opposing the bail application, counsel for the State said at the time of the incident, Mishra was in the car that rammed down the farmers..After hearing the submissions of the parties, Justice Rajeev Singh reserved the judgment and directed the counsel for the State to submit a photocopy of the case diary in a sealed cover..Senior Advocate Gopal Chaturvedi, along with Advocates Saumya Chaturvedi, Brij Mohan Sahai, Prabhu Ranjan Tripathi and Salil Kumar Srivastava appeared for Mishra. The State was represented by Additional Advocate General VK Shahi and Advocates Prachish Pandey and Shashank Singh..Mishra and other persons are charged 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.Lakhimpur Kheri incident a pre-planned conspiracy: SIT says as UP Court allows fresh charges against accused.[Read order]