A fast-track court in Uttar Pradesh rejected the state government's plea to withdraw charges against the accused in 2015 Mohammad Akhlaq mob lynching case. The court also ordered to expedite the trial in the case by conducting hearings daily.
The Additional District and Sessions Judge's court in Surajpur rejected the Uttar Pradesh government's plea seeking withdrawal of charges against the accused in the 2015 lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri. The court reportedly called the state government's application "baseless".
Yusuf Saifi, counsel for Akhlaq's family, said, "The court has rejected the state government's application to withdraw all charges against the accused in the Akhlaq lynching case and ordered fast-tracking of the trial with daily hearings," PTI reported. The court will next hear the matter on January 6.
Mohammad Akhlaq, a resident of Bisahda village in Greater Noida, was killed in September 2015 after a mob attacked him at his residence over rumours that he had beef during Eid that year and also stored it in his house.
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Citing "maintenance of social harmony", the Yogi Adityanath government moved the court seeking permission to withdraw the case against all the accused. The application was filed by the assistant district government advocate (criminal) following directions from the state government and the joint director of prosecution, PTI reported.
Uttar Pradesh police arrested 18, including three minors, in connection with the lynching. One of the accused passed away in 2016, while the remaining 14 accused are currently out on bail, Live Law reported.