Defamation proceedings against Rahul stayed

Lakhimpur Kheri victims' family members allege accused tried to influence witnesses, SP asked to file report

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi

THE Supreme Court on Monday sought a report from UP police after initiating an inquiry into the allegations by the family members of 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims that the prime accused, Ashish Mishra, tried to influence the witnesses in the case.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh directed the Lakhimpur Kheri SP to file the report in the court. "In our considered view the veracity, genuineness and reliability of such material can only be gone into by the police administration. The police administration may submit a report in support or against the allegation made in the application seeking cancellation of bail," the bench said.

Mishra, son of union minister Ajay Mishra, denied the allegations in his affidavit, and said every time the matter was listed, such averments were made for the cancellation of his bail granted by the top court.