Court Rejects UP Government’s Request to Drop Charges in Akhlaq Case

By: The Trek News Desk

In a significant setback to the Uttar Pradesh government, a court in Surajpur has rejected the state’s request to withdraw criminal charges in the 2015 Mohammad Akhlaq lynching case. The court has instead directed that the trial be fast-tracked, with hearings to be held on a day-to-day basis.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Saurabh Dwivedi classified the matter as a “most important case” and instructed the prosecution to record evidence at the earliest. The court also ordered senior police officials in Gautam Buddh Nagar and Greater Noida to ensure complete protection of all evidence linked to the case.

The next hearing has been scheduled for January 6.

Government Arguments Turned Down
The state government had moved an application on October 15 seeking the withdrawal of prosecution against the accused. It argued that statements given by the victim’s family were inconsistent, no weapons were recovered from the accused, and there was no documented personal enmity between the accused and the deceased.

However, the court declined to accept these submissions and ruled that the case should proceed without delay.

Background of the Case
The incident dates back to September 2015, when Mohammad Akhlaq, a resident of Bisada village in Dadri, was attacked by a mob following rumours of alleged cow slaughter. According to the prosecution, announcements from a local temple triggered the gathering of people outside Akhlaq’s home. Akhlaq and his son, Danish, were allegedly dragged out and assaulted. Akhlaq later died during treatment at a hospital in Noida, while Danish survived after sustaining serious injuries.

Based on a complaint filed by Akhlaq’s wife, Ikraman, police registered a case at Jarcha police station under multiple sections, including murder, attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, and other related offences.

Chargesheet and Present Status
In December 2015, police filed a chargesheet before the Surajpur magistrate court, naming 15 accused, including a minor. All the accused are currently out on bail. The chargesheet did not specifically mention cow meat, as the forensic report was not available at the time of filing.

With the court’s latest directive, the case is now expected to move forward at a faster pace, marking a crucial development in a matter that has remained pending for nearly a decade.

Source: News Agencies