A Delhi court on Thursday framed charges against seven people accused in the hit-and-drag case, in which a 20-year-old woman was dragged to death by a car on the intervening night of December 31, 2022 and January 1, 2023.

Additional Sessions Judge Neeraj Gaur of Rohini court ordered framing of charges against Amit Khanna, Krishan, Manoj Mittal and Mithun under Sections 302 (murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.

The Court further framed charges against Deepak, Ashutosh and Ankush under Sections 201 (harbouring offender), 212, 182 (false information with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person) and 34 (act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC.

The matter was listed for formal framing of charges on August 14.

Delhi Police had arrested Deepak Khanna, Krishan, Amit Khanna, Mithun and Manoj Mittal in the case on January 2, a day after the incident.

Police had filed an 800-page against the seven accused on April 1.

As per the charge sheet, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mithun and Manoj Mittal were booked for murder. Ashutosh and Amit were also booked under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA).

A 20-year-old woman Anjali Singh was killed in the early hours of January 1, 2023, after her scooter was hit by a car, which dragged her for more than 12 kilometres from Sultanpur to Kanjhawala.

 A local court in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday framed charges against 14 people, including Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, for their involvement in the October 3, 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri incident, which led to death of eight people, including four farmers.

The order was passed by Additional District Judge I (ADJ-I) Sunil Kumar Verma, who said that trial in the case will begin on December 16. 

Earlier on Monday, the trial court had rejected the discharge application filed by Ashish Mishra and 12 others.

Mishra and 12 others face charges under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons), 427 (mischief causing damage), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Another accused, Virendra Shukla, has been charged under Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of IPC.
Mishra was arrested on October 9 last year for offence under Sections 302 IPC (murder) and 120B IPC (criminal conspiracy), among others.

Also Read: The Allahabad High Court grants bail to the rape accused due to lack of medical evidence

Earlier on October 17, the Supreme Court had directed the government of Uttar Pradesh to file a counter-affidavit on the bail application of Ashish Mishra.

The Bench of Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice B.V. Nagarathna had passed the order on Mishra’s plea, which challenged the July 26 order of the Allahabad High Court, denying him regular bail.

Earlier on September 6, the top court of the country had issued notice to the State of Uttar Pradesh in the matter.

The Bench of Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M.M. Sundresh had passed the order on a petition filed by Mishra, challenging the Allahabad High Court order of July 26, denying bail to Mishra.

Mishra had moved the High Court, after the order by the earlier court was set aside by the Supreme Court in April, 2022.

The Apex Court had then ordered a fresh consideration of his bail plea by the High Court.

Also Read: Bombay High Court disposes PIL filed to enforce old order regarding vehicle parking

Mishra was directed by the Court to surrender within a week.

The family members of the victims of Lakhimpur Kheri incident had moved the Supreme Court, challenging the bail order of Ashish Mishra.

The incident took place on October 3 last year, when several farmers had staged a protest against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Lakhimpur Kheri district. An SUV, which was part of Ashish Mishra’s convoy, had allegedly mowed down four protesting farmers at the site.