SIT chargesheets MoS Ajay Mishra Teni's son, 12 others in Lakhimpur case

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which four farmers were mowed to death, has submitted its chargesheet charging Union minister of state Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra and twelve others with attempt to murder, participating in criminal conspiracy, murder, among other charges, thus marking the end of the police investigation into the case.

One Virendra Shukla, who was not arrested earlier, was additionally named under section 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for destruction of evidence. Shukla is believed to be a relative of Ajay Mishra. The SIT, being monitored by a retired HC judge, was to submit its charge sheet within 90 days of making its first arrest. The chargesheet is known to run into thousands of pages.

Senior prosecuting officer SP Yadav said witnesses have stated that Mishra was present at the spot when the incident took place and the same is mentioned in the case diary.


Charges under which Ashish Mishra and twelve others are named include sections 147, 148, 149 of the IPC (rioting, rioting armed with deadly weapon and punishing every member in an "unlawful assembly" deeming them guilty of offence committed with a common object), 302 and 307 (for murder and attempt to murder), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 34, 427 and 120-B (criminal conspiracy), Yadav told ET.

Two of the accused -- Nandan Singh Bisht and Sumit Jaiswal -- have also been charged with 5/27 and 3/25 of the Arms Act, he said.

Last month, the SIT had told the chief judicial magistrate that the incident was not an act of "negligence" but a "well-planned scheme" following which it had asked the court to delete charges like 'causing death by negligence' and two more and added sections 326, 307, 34 and sections of the Arms Act.

Awadhesh Singh, the counsel representing Mishra, told ET that there were about 1,500 pieces of photographic and video evidence to show that Mishra was present at the place where the wrestling match was taking place and was not present at the site of the incident when it took place, and that the SIT has "no evidence" to prove his presence at the spot.