Wed Nov 27 10:26:00 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court Orders Ashish Mishra to Respond to Witness Intimidation Allegations
**New Delhi, November 27, 2024** – The Supreme Court has directed Ashish Mishra, son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra and accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings case, to respond to allegations of witness intimidation. Mishra’s lawyer denied the claims, presenting photographs to the court arguing they did not depict his client engaging in such activities. However, the court has requested a formal sworn affidavit in response.
The allegations were raised by Prashant Bhushan, representing the victims, who expressed concerns about powerful accused influencing witnesses while the trial remains ongoing. While the court previously rejected a plea for a day-to-day trial, it has maintained indirect supervision of the case since granting Mishra interim bail in January 2023, making it absolute in July 2024. The court emphasized the need to expedite the trial proceedings.
The Lakhimpur Kheri incident, which occurred on October 3, 2021, involved an SUV allegedly from Mishra’s convoy running over farmers protesting new agricultural laws. The Supreme Court’s order underscores its commitment to balancing the accused’s right to liberty with the victims’ right to justice.
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