Allahabad HC Upholds Acquittal Of Union Minister Ajay Mishra In 23-Year-Old Murder Case

The Allahabad High Court has upheld the acquittal of Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Mishra Teni, in the 23-year-old Prabhat Gupta murder case. The bench, consisting of Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Om Prakash Shukla, dismissed the appeal by the Uttar Pradesh government against his acquittal order issued by a trial court in 2004.

Ajay Mishra Teni is the father of Ashish Mishra, who was accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri killings. The case hearing concluded on Tuesday, and the bench reserved its decision after a hearing on February 21, 2023.

The incident took place in 2000 when Prabhat Gupta, a member of the Samajwadi Party's youth wing, was shot dead in Surrey Bazar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, while returning home. At the time, Teni was associated with the BJP. Four individuals, including Ajay Mishra Teni, were named in the FIR: Subhash Mama, Shashi Bhushan Pinky, and Rakesh Dalu.

Teni was acquitted by the trial court in 2004 due to a lack of evidence. The Uttar Pradesh government at the time filed an appeal in the High Court against the trial court's decision.

During the case, the state government argued that Teni had a dispute with Prabhat, a student leader, regarding the panchayat elections. It was alleged that Teni and the other accused, Subhash Mama, had shot Prabhat.

Eyewitnesses to the incident were also present, but their testimonies were disregarded by the trial court. In response, the defense argued that the alleged eyewitnesses were deemed untrustworthy by the trial court as they were employees of a shop where the incident occurred. The defense claimed that the trial court's decision to acquit Ajay Mishra Teni was justified.