SC cancels bail of Ashish Misra in Lakhimpur violence case

The Supreme Court canceled Lakhimpur Kheri violence accused Ashish Misra's bail and ordered him to surrender within one week. During a hearing on Monday, the court set aside the Allahabad High Court order granting Ashish Misra bail and said, "The high court exceeded its jurisdiction, denied victims their right to participate in proceedings." Ashish Mishra is the son of union minister Ajay Mishra who has been facing attacks from the opposition since last year over the incident. In February, the Allahabad High Court had granted bail to Ashish, nearly four months after he was arrested. The high court has been asked to take up the matter afresh.

"The high court has taken into consideration several irrelevant considerations and issues. No legal necessity to give undue advantage to the FIR," the Supreme Court said in its order. "The victim has unbridled participatory right in such a criminal trial process," Justice Surya Kant said in sharp words while announcing the decision. In a petition before the Supreme Court, the farmers' families said Ashish Mishra's bail must be cancelled as he is a threat to witnesses. A witness was attacked in March and attackers had issued threats citing the BJP's victory in the recent UP election, they alleged.