Lakhimpur Case: Ex-Union Minister, Son Cleared of Witness Threat Allegations

Uttar Pradesh police have concluded their investigation into allegations of witness intimidation, clearing former Union minister for state Ajay Kumar Mishra and his son Ashish Mishra. The case stemmed from a complaint by witness Baljeet Singh, who claimed to have received threats connected to the ongoing trial over the 2021 Lakhimpur violence. In this incident, Ashish Mishra is accused of driving a vehicle that ran over protesting farmers.

In a status report submitted to the Supreme Court, the state police detailed their findings. While an audio clip provided by the victim led to a charge sheet against an individual identified as Amandeep Singh, the investigation found no evidence implicating Ajay Mishra, Ashish Mishra, or Virendra Kumar Mishra in the alleged threat. The police filed a final report dropping the charges against the Mishra family and Virendra Kumar Mishra, with Amandeep Singh now the sole defendant in the witness intimidation case.

This development is significant as Ashish Mishra is currently out on bail in the main Lakhimpur violence trial. His bail conditions explicitly prohibit him and his family from threatening or influencing witnesses. The main trial is still ongoing, with 61 out of 131 witnesses yet to be examined. The Lakhimpur Kheri violence resulted in eight deaths, including four farmers and a journalist.