The Supreme Court has upheld the order of the Allahabad High Court, dismissing an appeal filed by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2004 against Union Minister Ajay Mishra's acquittal in a murder case. The case dates back to the year 2000, involving the killing of Prabhat Gupta in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal, declined to interfere with the concurrent findings of facts recorded by both the Lucknow bench of the high court and the trial court. The order, passed on January 8, stated, "Having heard the senior counsel, Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, at length and after carefully perusing the material placed on record, we are not inclined to interfere with the concurrent findings of facts recorded by the two courts. Hence, the special leave petitions are dismissed."

The trial court had initially acquitted Ajay Mishra in 2004, prompting the state government to challenge the decision in the high court. The recent Supreme Court decision came in response to an appeal filed by petitioner Rajeev Gupta, challenging the high court's May 2023 order, which affirmed the trial court's judgment without finding any errors.

It is noteworthy that Union Minister Ajay Mishra had previously sought a transfer of the appeal from the Lucknow bench of the high court to the principal bench at Prayagraj, but this request was declined.

The case revolves around the death of 24-year-old Prabhat Gupta, who was shot dead in the Tikunia area of Lakhimpur. Mishra and others were named in the FIR lodged in connection with the killing. The additional sessions judge in Lakhimpur Kheri had acquitted Mishra and others in 2004, citing a lack of adequate evidence.

Expressing their discontent with the acquittals, the state government had filed an appeal, while the deceased's family had separately filed a revision petition challenging the judgment.