Supreme Court reprimanded: CJI Ramanna asked the UP government – ​​Thousands of farmers were present in Lakhimpur violence and only 23 eyewitnesses were found?

Earlier, in the hearing held on October 20, the court had reprimanded the UP government for late filing of the report in this matter.

Public interest litigation (PIL) filed in UP’s Lakhimpur violence case was heard in the Supreme Court today. CJI NV Ramanna has once again reprimanded the UP government. Asked whether the statements of the witnesses should be recorded before the magistrate? Responding to this, UP government’s lawyer Harish Salve said that the statements of 30 witnesses have been recorded before the magistrate, out of which 23 are eye-witnesses. There are few left which have to be declared.

After this the bench asked that thousands of farmers were present during the rally in Lakhimpur and you got only 23 eyewitnesses? Harish Salve said that by giving a public advertisement, we have asked that all the eyewitnesses should come forward. All mobile video and videography in the incident has also been taken care of. The Supreme Court directed to provide security to the witnesses and said that their statements should be recorded expeditiously. The matter will now come up for hearing on November 8.

Harish Salve said – security is being given to the witnesses

The case was heard by a bench of CJI NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli. Justice Suryakant said that there were four-five thousand people who were local. Salve replied that not all were local, some outsiders were also there. To this, Salve said that the question here is of the eyewitnesses. The CJI said that do you know that there is always a possibility in these cases. The CJI said that you ask your investigating agency how many people apart from 23 people, who have seen the incident. Take their statement.

To this Salve asked that can we show you about some recorded statements of the witnesses in the sealed cover? We will give details to the court next time. The CJI said there is also an issue of security of witnesses. Salve said security was being provided to them.

Separate reply sought on death of BJP leader and journalist

In Lakhimpur Kheri, wife of one of the deceased BJP leader Shyam Sundar told SC that my husband has been killed, I want justice. The killers are roaming freely and threatening me. The bench has sought a separate reply from UP on the death of Kashyap and journalist Kashyap. Meanwhile, a complaint was made to the bench that their complaint has not been investigated by the wife of one of the deceased. Similarly, the matter of journalist Raman Kashyap, who was killed in the incident, has also been raised.

The court also expressed displeasure over the laxity in recording the statement
On October 20, the investigation report was filed by the UP government’s lawyer Harish Salve. On this the Chief Justice had said, ‘If you give the report at the last minute, how will we be able to read it? Must be given at least one day in advance. The court also asked why the UP government did not take the statements of other witnesses in this case. The court said that you have examined only 4 witnesses out of 44 so far, why so? It seems that the UP Police was withdrawing from the investigation of the matter. Correct this image.

The court further said that your SIT can understand who are the weakest witnesses and they can be attacked, then why only 4 witnesses’ statements were recorded till now?

These 6 questions were asked by the court

In the first hearing also, the court had reprimanded
Even during the last hearing of the Lakhimpur case, the Supreme Court had strongly reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh government expressing its displeasure over the investigation. The court asked the UP government’s lawyer Harish Salve that why the accused was not arrested even after the murder case was registered? What message do you want to convey by doing this?

The SIT is investigating the violence case. So far 13 accused have been arrested.

Let us inform that on October 3, 8 people including 4 farmers were killed in the violence in Lakhimpur. Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra is the main accused in this case.