Lakhimpur Kheri violence: SC questions UP Police inaction on witness’ complaint of threat, bribe

The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Uttar Pradesh Police for not acting on a witness’ complaint that he was threatened with “dire consequences” and offered a bribe not to testify in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case involving former Union minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra, Live Law reported.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh directed the police to verify the allegations.

On June 20, Baljinder Singh filed a written complaint alleging that an unidentified person offered him Rs 1 lakh and threatened him with consequences if he testified in the case, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the complainant, told the court.

Bhushan added that despite the written complaint, no first information report had been registered, Live Law reported.

The Uttar Pradesh Police reportedly claimed that Singh had not appeared in person, which is why the FIR was not filed. The court said this explanation was unsatisfactory.

“In case the complainant has been reluctant in coming forward in support of his complaint, some senior police officer can be deputed to visit the complainant…to verify if complaint has been made by him,” Live Law quoted the bench as saying. “If such contents are acknowledged it is imperative for police to investigate.”

The court also directed the senior superintendent of police in Lucknow to...

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