The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) asked the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court to look into allegations levelled in an application filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan against the judicial officer presiding over the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.
The primary accused standing trial in the case is Ashish Mishra, son of former Union minister Ajay Mishra. On October 3, 2021, eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Tikunia in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district during a protest by farmers against Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the area.
“The conduct of the presiding officer will shock the conscience of the court. The presiding officer withdrew to himself NDPS, SC/ST cases and granted the accused bail or acquitted them. Under the law, he cannot withdraw to himself,” Mr. Bhushan contended. The Bench directed the Uttar Pradesh government to look for a senior public prosecutor in the Lakhimpur Kheri district who has considerable experience in conducting sessions trials and inform the court in two weeks. The court asked the High Court Chief Justice to submit his enquiry report into the allegations in a sealed cover. The top court posted the matter after two weeks.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for an eyewitness in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, alleged that the presiding officer issued a non-bailable warrant against his client after he failed to appear before the court due to an illness.
In December 2022, the trial court framed charges against Mr. Mishra and 12 others, including charges of murder, criminal conspiracy and other offences, paving the way for the commencement of the trial in the main case.
