UP govt seeks withdrawal of all charges against accused in Mohammad Akhlaq lynching case
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New Delhi: Ten years after the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Uttar Pradesh’s Dadri, the state government has moved to withdraw all charges including murder against the men accused of killing him in 2015. Akhlaq, then 52, was dragged out of his home in Bisada village and lynched by a mob after rumours spread that he had slaughtered a cow and stored beef in his refrigerator.
According to an application filed before the upper sessions court in Gautam Buddha Nagar, the Uttar Pradesh government has sought to withdraw the case under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Outlook reported. Among the accused is Vishal Rana, son of local BJP leader Sanjay Rana.
The men had been booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code now replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including: 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation).
The withdrawal application was filed on October 15 by Bhag Singh, Assistant District Government Counsel, following directions from the state government conveyed through a letter on August 26.
The state also informed the court that the Governor of Uttar Pradesh has given written approval to withdraw the prosecution. The application reiterates the government’s position that the meat recovered from Akhlaq’s house had been identified as beef by a government laboratory. A letter from Brijesh Kumar Mishra, Joint Director (Prosecution), instructing Singh to proceed with the withdrawal, was attached with the petition.
The matter is pending before the court, which must grant its consent before any charges can be formally dropped.
Akhlaq’s lynching on September 28, 2015, sparked nationwide outrage and became a defining moment in public debates on mob violence and rising communal tensions during the Modi decade.
As per reports from the time, a temple loudspeaker in Bisada allegedly announced that beef had been found in Akhlaq’s home. Soon after, a mob stormed the house. Akhlaq died on the spot, while his son Danish sustained critical injuries.
The incident triggered widespread protests across the country. Citizens organised “Not In My Name” marches, and political leaders, scholars, and activists described the lynching as a sign of eroding secular and democratic values. It later became a reference point for a series of similar attacks in northern India, where vigilante groups targeted Muslim men on allegations of cow slaughter or cattle transport.
The court will now hear the government’s withdrawal request. Only after the court’s consent can the charges against the accused be dropped.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
