New Delhi, May 8 (Reporter) The Supreme Court on Thursday modified the bail conditions of Ashish Mishra, the prime accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, allowing him to visit his hometown every weekend to spend time with his family. However, the court laid down strict conditions that the visits must remain private and must not involve any political activity or public engagement. A bench comprising justices Surya Kant and NK Singh directed that Mishra may travel to Lakhimpur Kheri every Saturday evening and must return to Lucknow by Sunday evening. The court emphasised that the permission is solely for family visits and not for any public or political participation. The court’s decision came in response to an application filed by Mishra, represented by senior advocate Sidharth Dave, seeking relaxation of bail terms. Dave argued that Mishra had not seen his daughters for over four years and should be allowed to spend more time with them. When the bench questioned why the daughters could not visit him in Lucknow instead, Dave replied that Lakhimpur was closer and had a better climate, adding that his mother’s health was deteriorating. Previously, the bail order, granted as part of the interim relief in January 2023, restricted Mishra’s movement and barred him from entering Lakhimpur Kheri except to attend trial proceedings. The court altered that condition while retaining a strict prohibition on political activity during his stay. The case pertains to the October 3, 2021 incident in Lakhimpur Kheri, where vehicles allegedly linked to Ashish Mishra's convoy knocked down protesting farmers, killing five people. The episode led to national outrage, especially given that Mishra’s father, Ajay Mishra, was a Union minister at the time. During Thursday’s hearing, Uttar Pradesh additional advocate general Garima Prashad informed the court that 16 out of 208 listed witnesses have been examined so far, including 10 injured eyewitnesses. She also indicated that the prosecution was evaluating the possibility of reducing the number of formal witnesses. Justice Surya Kant acknowledged that witnesses numbered 16 to 90 were primarily eyewitnesses, some of whom were public servants. He suggested that in cases where multiple witnesses belong to the same family, examining one might be sufficient though he clarified this was merely a suggestion and the final decision rested with the prosecutor. When advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the victims' families, attempted to raise concerns about the gravity of the allegations, Dave objected, asserting that the victims could not take over the trial process. Justice Kant, however, emphasized that victims have a recognised role in criminal trials. The court’s engagement comes after the Allahabad High Court’s 2022 bail to Mishra was overturned by the Supreme Court on grounds of faulty reasoning. Mishra was later granted interim bail in January 2023, which was made absolute with a series of restrictions, including residency limitations. The court order further eases those conditions but reinforces the its stance that the trial must proceed without interference, and the rights of victims must be respected...////...