The Uttar Pradesh government, refuting charges by the families of the victims of letting the minister’s son off easy and not protecting a witness, said the bail application by Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni’s son Ashish Mishra, accused of running over farmers during a march last year, had been “vehemently opposed”.
The UP government, filing response to a plea in Supreme Court challenging Mr Mishra’s bail in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, said the decision to file an appeal against the bail “is pending consideration before relevant authorities”.
“Allegations that the UP government did not oppose bail to Ashish Mishra in Allahabad High Court is completely untrue… UP government vehemently opposed the bail application,” it said.
The BJP government in the Northern state, denying allegations that a witness was attacked over the Lakhimpur Kheri case, said they were attacked over a personal dispute involving throwing colours on Holi.
The UP government also contradicted the allegations that attackers had issued threats that now that the BJP had won the UP elections, they would “take care” of him.
“Witnesses of the altercation say no such statements were made… Families of all victims and witnesses of Lakhimpur violence are being provided continuous security. The state government has provided armed gunners to witnesses,” the government said.
“Regular security appraisals are being done for witnesses. In the most recent interaction, they expressed satisfaction with security arrangements,” it said.
A plea filed by the relatives of the, seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Ashish Mishra by the Allahabad High Court, will be heard tomorrow by the bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli.
The court had issued a notice on March 16 to to the Uttar Pradesh government and Ashish Mishra, seeking their responses to why his bail should not be cancelled. The court had also expressed concern on the issue of a witness being attacked.
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