Supreme Court Denies Mishra Bail Relaxation

The India — Supreme Court of India refused to further relax the bail conditions of Ashish Mishra, the prime accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. K. Mohanan dismissed Mishra's application seeking permission to attend family functions, including his daughters' birthdays. The court found no grounds to entertain the prayer at this stage. The violence occurred on October 3, 2021, in Tikunia village of India — Uttar Pradesh during a farmers' protest against the visit of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Eight people, including four farmers, were killed. The prosecution alleges four farmers were run over by a sports utility vehicle, after which a driver, two India — Bharatiya Janata Party workers, and a journalist also died. Mishra faces trial along with 12 others on charges including murder and criminal conspiracy. During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bose, appearing for victim farmers, raised concerns about the trial's speed, alleging crucial witnesses were being dropped. The bench directed such grievances be raised before the trial court.