Lakhimpur Kheri case: protect witnesses, Supreme Court tells Uttar Pradesh govt.

Special Bench also issued notice to Uttar Pradesh in a petition challenging an Allahabad High Court order granting bail to Ashish Mishra, son of a Union Minister and prime accused in the case.

The Supreme Court on March 16 ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to protect witnesses in the Lakhimpur Kheri case in which an SUV mowed down farmers participating in a rally protesting against the farm laws.

A Special Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana also issued notice to Uttar Pradesh in a petition challenging an Allahabad High Court order granting bail to Ashish Mishra, son of a Union Minister and prime accused in the case.

The court pulled up the State government when the farmers’ families, represented by senior advocate Dushyant Dave and advocate Prashant Bhushan, informed that a witness was brutally attacked by a group which referred to the recent victory of the ruling BJP in the State Assembly poll and how it would turn out poorly for those who testify in the case.

“What is this? They [families] have brought up a specific incident in which a witness has been threatened... You have to file a detailed counter affidavit on this... You see to it that the witnesses are protected,” Chief Justice Ramana addressed the State government side.

The court posted the case for hearing on March 24.

Mr. Dave argued that the bail granted to Mr. Ashish Mishra was a “misguided” one. The order of bail was passed despite the fact that the Supreme Court took the gravity of incident into consideration while appointing a Special Investigation Team, monitored by a retired High Court judge, for a time-bound probe of the case.