The Supreme Court on Thursday, 16 July took on record a status report submitted by the Uttar Pradesh Police stating that its investigation found no evidence against former Union Minister Ajay Mishra and his son Ashish Mishra in the alleged witness intimidation case linked to the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The apex court is actively monitoring the progress of the Lakhimpur Kheri trials, which have seen repeated delays.

What the UP Police Status Report Said

The Uttar Pradesh Police informed a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana that a charge sheet had been filed against only one accused — Amandeep Singh — in the witness intimidation case. The police stated that the investigation did not reveal the involvement of Ashish Mishra, Ajay Mishra, or any others in the alleged offence. The trial court has already taken cognisance of the case against Amandeep Singh.

The status report additionally noted that 64 prosecution witnesses are yet to be examined in the principal trial arising from the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Court's Response and Next Steps

Recording the contents of the status report, the Supreme Court granted the complainant two weeks to file an additional affidavit in response to the state police's findings. The matter is scheduled to be heard again next month.

Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Ashish Mishra, submitted before the Bench: 'I have not been even named in the chargesheet. The trial will wrap up in three months.'

Background: The Witness Intimidation Complaint

The witness intimidation proceedings stem from a complaint by Baljinder Singh, a prosecution witness in the main Lakhimpur Kheri violence trial, who alleged that attempts were made to dissuade him from deposing before the trial court. After the Supreme Court expressed concern over the delay in acting on the complaint, the Uttar Pradesh Police registered an FIR under Sections 195-A, 506, and 120-B of the IPC and commenced an investigation, which culminated in the charge sheet against Amandeep Singh.

In an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had directed the investigating officer to complete the remaining probe and submit the final report before the competent trial court within four weeks. It had also ordered that the investigation be conducted by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

The Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: A Recap

The October 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence left eight people dead after clashes erupted during farmers' protests against the visit of then Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. According to the UP Police FIR, four protesting farmers were allegedly mowed down by an SUV in which Ashish Mishra was reportedly present.

The Supreme Court had previously expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of trial proceedings, noting that no prosecution witness had been examined for nearly two months despite the issuance of bailable and non-bailable warrants. It had directed the trial court to make efforts to conclude both criminal trials in a time-bound manner and advised the prosecution to summon more witnesses on each date while dropping unnecessary formal witnesses to expedite the process.

What Happens Next

With the complainant now having two weeks to respond to the police's findings, the Supreme Court's continued monitoring signals that the apex court will not allow the proceedings to stall. The next hearing is expected to determine whether the court accepts the UP Police's clean chit or calls for further scrutiny — a critical juncture for a case that has drawn sustained national attention since 2021.