The Supreme Court has permitted Ashish Mishra, accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, to visit his hometown for Diwali. Bail restrictions remain in place, ensuring he avoids contact with political workers and the public during the visit.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has allowed Ashish Mishra, son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra and an accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, to visit his hometown to celebrate Diwali with his family. The visit is scheduled for October 20-22, 2025, according to a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi.
While granting the permission, the court emphasized that the existing restrictions on Mishra’s movement would continue. These restrictions, imposed at the time of bail, bar him from meeting political workers or members of the public during such visits. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Mishra, assured the court that his client would return on time.
This is not the first time Mishra has been allowed to visit his hometown. On March 24, 2025, he was permitted to travel to Lakhimpur Kheri for Ram Navami celebrations.
Court Observations
The Supreme Court also noted the progress of the ongoing trial, recording that 23 witnesses have been examined while nine witnesses have been dropped. The court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to submit a report on the current status of the investigation.
During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing some of the victims, requested that the trial be expedited. The bench, however, observed that speeding up the trial could be seen as monitoring court proceedings, which the judiciary cannot undertake.
Background of the Case
The Lakhimpur Kheri incident occurred on October 3, 2021, in Tikunia village. Eight people, including four farmers, lost their lives during a protest against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
The incident escalated when a speeding SUV allegedly ran over farmers, after which angry protesters beat a driver and two BJP workers to death. A journalist also died in the chaos.
In December 2023, the trial court framed charges against Ashish Mishra and 12 others for murder, criminal conspiracy, and other offenses, paving the way for a full-fledged trial. Mishra was granted bail by the Supreme Court on July 22, 2023, with conditions restricting his movement to Delhi and Lucknow until the conclusion of the trial.
Allegations of Influence
The court has previously received allegations that Mishra attempted to influence witnesses. On January 20, 2025, the Supreme Court called for a report from the state police on these claims. Mishra denied the allegations, asserting that such claims are repeatedly made to challenge his bail.
