UP govt seeks withdrawal of all charges against accused in Mohammad Akhlaq lynching case
_vb_58.jpeg)
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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
