Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra and the primary culprit in last year’s massacre of protesting farmers in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri, has been freed from jail.
He exited the jail through the back gate in an SUV, which is unusual for other inmates.
Avdesh Kumar Singh, Ashish Mishra’s lawyer, stated that the court required two sureties of 3 lakh apiece but imposed no limitations on his leaving the city.
The Allahabad High Court granted him bail this week after lower courts denied his request.
The court had questioned several of the allegations stated by the police, including shooting at protestors, in a contentious decision. The court stated that no such firearm injuries were discovered on the bodies of any of the deceased or any wounded individual over the course of the inquiry.
The judge also called into doubt police assertions that Ashish incited the SUV driver to run down the farmers.
The court further said that Ashish Mishra appeared before the investigating officials when called (he had previously evaded summons) and that a charge sheet had been prepared.
In such conditions, this court believes the petitioner is entitled to bail, according to the court
Farmers and opposition politicians were outraged when Ashish Mishra was released on bail.
Farmers allege policemen were pressured to weaken the case, which resulted in Ashish Mishra’s release.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait announced today that the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella organisation of farmer unions that battled the agricultural regulations, will file an appeal with the Supreme Court “shortly.”
The release of Ashish Mishra comes as the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh goes to the polls in a seven-phase Assembly election. Two phases have concluded. The third will take place on Sunday. Lakhimpur goes to the polls in the fourth phase on February 23.