SC grants 2 weeks to UP govt to file response to Mishra's bail plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted two weeks to the Uttar Pradesh government to file its response on a plea filed by Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, seeking bail in a case related to the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had on July 26 rejected the bail plea of Mishra.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna said it will hear the matter on November 7.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ashish Mishra, told the court that notice was already issued in the matter.

On October 3 last year, eight people were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri during violence that erupted when farmers were protesting against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit to the area.

Four farmers were mowed down by an SUV, in which Ashish Mishra was seated, according to the Uttar Pradesh Police FIR.

Following the incident, the driver and two BJP workers were allegedly lynched by angry farmers.

A journalist also died in the violence that triggered outrage among opposition parties and farmer groups agitating over the Centre's now-repealed agricultural reform laws.