The Uttar Pradesh Police has told the Supreme Court that Ajay Mishra Teni, a retired Union minister, and his son Ashish Mishra were not among those who were involved in threatening or intimidating witnesses to death in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.
The state police has submitted a status report in the apex court in the witness intimidation case on Thursday. The cops, before the top court, have said that there has been no charge-sheet against Ajay Mishra and Ashish Mishra in the case. The investigation had revealed no evidence connecting the father-son duo to influencing or threatening witnesses and only Amandeep Singh was chargesheeted, the report added.
This was heard before a bench presided over by Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan. The Uttar Pradesh police also told the court that the trial of the main Lakhimpur Kheri violence case is likely to be over in the next three months.
The Supreme Court deferred till next month the hearing of Ashish Mishra’s bail plea after it was submitted.
Suhasini Maurya, appearing before Ashish Mishra, the advocate, contended in the latest police report that neither his client nor Ajay Mishra were responsible for intimidating witnesses. The court was also told that it has yet to be seen if 62 witnesses testified during the trial.
On October 3, 2021, eight persons including four farmer protesters were killed during violence in the Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh. Ashish Mishra has been hit by accusations of taking part in the incident, where a convoy was reportedly seen run down farmers protesting against the now-repealed farm laws.