The trial is approaching its final stages, with 86 of the 130 prosecution witnesses examined so far.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court is likely to hear on Monday a plea filed by Ashish Mishra, the prime accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, amid proceedings concerning allegations against the trial judge.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana is scheduled to take up the matter.
Mishra, son of former Union minister Ajay Mishra 'Teni', had approached the apex court seeking bail and subsequently sought relaxation of the bail conditions.
On October 5, the Supreme Court asked the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to act expeditiously on allegations that the presiding officer in the Lakhimpur Kheri trial had transferred several criminal cases to himself and acquitted the accused.
The court had earlier directed the Uttar Pradesh government to appoint a new public prosecutor to conduct the trial.
The allegations against the trial judge were raised by advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the victims.
He questioned the judge's conduct and sought intervention by the apex court.
The Supreme Court directed the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice to examine the allegations, take appropriate action and forward a report through the Registrar (Vigilance) in a sealed cover.
During an earlier hearing, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the high court registry, submitted that an administrative committee would have to examine the allegations.
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Mishra, countered that Bhushan had objections to several persons associated with the case, including the trial judge, public prosecutor and accused.
The apex court had on August 6 declined to further relax Mishra's bail conditions.
The trial is approaching its final stages, with 86 of the 130 prosecution witnesses examined so far.
Eight persons were killed in violence at Tikunia in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3, 2021, during a farmers' protest against a visit by then deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Four farmers were mowed down by an SUV, while a driver and two BJP workers were allegedly lynched by an angry crowd.
A journalist also died in the violence.
A trial court framed charges, including murder and criminal conspiracy, against Mishra and other accused in December 2022.
