Lakhimpur Kheri Case: Supreme Court Allows Ashish Mishra to Visit His Hometown for Diwali Amidst Witness Intimidation Charges

On Thursday (October 09, 2025), the Supreme Court (SC) of India was notified that the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police had filed an FIR accusing witness intimidation in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case of 2021, and instructed the State to probe the complaint. The Court then allowed the accused, Ashish Mishra, the son of former Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni, to visit his hometown for Diwali, under strict conditions. The bench with Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that a senior police officer (Deputy Superintendent) had been assigned to document the witness’s statement, and an FIR had been registered naming Ashish Mishra, his father Ajay Mishra, and others. The charges involve criminal intimidation and conspiracy; the authorities were directed to do a quick probe and file a report. The bench said, “Since the preliminary exercise has been undertaken by an officer in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, it will be prudent that if the same officer and/or an officer in the equivalent rank investigates the FIR and takes it to a logical conclusion.”

On a separate note, and on the request of counsel for Mishra, the Court permitted Mishra to visit Lakhimpur Kheri for Diwali only for the period of October 20–21, on the conditions that he return therefrom by October 22, that he will not engage in any public meetings, and that he will not affiliate with any political workers or the public in association of his visit. The Court indicated that these conditions were consistent with prior orders it had issued when the Court allowed similar restricted visits in the past. The bench recorded that Mishra undertook to abide by these conditions.