Union minister Ajay Misra’s son Ashish Misra, who was arrested in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, walked out of jail on Tuesday after he was granted bail. Ashish Misra was released from jail after he was granted bail by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. Ashish Misra’s lawyers submitted two bail bonds of Rs 3 lakh each in regards to his bail orders on Monday.
Ashish Misra was arrested on October 9 last year in connection with the violence that erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri. On October 3, 2021, eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri in clashes during a farmers’ protest. In a controversial order, the court had questioned some of the charges listed by the police, including firing at protesters.”…during the course of investigation, no such firearm injuries were found either on the body of any of the deceased or on the body of any injured person,” the court said.
The court also questioned police claims Ashish incited the driver of the SUV to run over the farmers. Ashish Mishra, the court further said, appeared before the investigating officers when summoned (he’d originally skipped summons) and a charge sheet had been filed. “In such circumstances, this court is of the view the applicant is entitled to bail,” the court said.
Bail for Ashish Mishra triggered furious reactions from farmers and opposition leaders. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait told media the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions who fought against the farm laws, will file an appeal in the Supreme Court “soon”. Farmers have claimed police were pressured to weaken the case and this led to Ashish Mishra’s bail.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary have both also hit out, as as Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, among others. Ashish Mishra’s release comes as BJP-ruled UP votes in a seven-phase Assembly election. Two phases are over. The third is on Sunday. Lakhimpur votes in the fourth phase – on February 23.