2015 Akhlaq lynching case: Setback for UP govt as court rejects state’s plea to withdraw charges against all accused

Akhlaq was lynched by a mob in the Dadri area of ​​Gautam Budh Nagar in 2015

In a setback to the Uttar Pradesh government, a court in Surajpur on Tuesday rejected the state’s plea to withdraw all charges against the accused in the 2015 lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq.

“A letter be sent to Police Commissioner of Gautam Buddha Nagar and Deputy Commissioner of Greater Noida to ensure that all kind of protection be provided to the evidences,” the court said as quoted by Indian Express.

Additional District Judge Saurabh Dwivedi also directed that the case be categorised as “most important” and heard on a daily basis. The Court also directed the prosecution to record evidence in the case at the earliest.

Earlier on Tuesday, the wife of the victim, Mohammad Akhlaq, moved the Allahabad High Court (HC) against the UP government’s proposal.

In 2015, Akhlaq was lynched by a mob in the Dadri area of ​​Gautam Budh Nagar in over the allegations that he had eaten beef during Eid and had stored it for later consumption as well.

On October 15, the UP government had moved an application to withdraw prosecution in the case.  It cited reasons ranging from allegedly inconsistent statements by Akhlaq’s kin in naming the accused; the fact that no firearm or sharp weapon was recovered from the accused, to the lack of any enmity or hostility recorded between the accused and the victim.

The state government had sought the court’s permission to withdraw the case against all the accused. Yusuf Saifi, the counsel for Akhlaq’s family, had earlier said the court has asked both sides to present their views on December 23.

Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat last week wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, demanding her intervention in the Uttar Pradesh government’s move to withdraw charges against the accused in the 2015 mob lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq.

In a letter to the President, Karat called it a “politically motivated" step by the government, and also questioned the role of the governor. “I write to draw your urgent attention to the role of the Uttar Pradesh governor in the matter of the mob lynching case of Md Akhlaq, which occurred in September 2015. The governor has given written permission to the UP government to go ahead in its wholly illegal and unjust attempt to subvert the processes of justice and to withdraw the entire case even though the main witness has already given evidence," Karat said.