Dadri mob lynching: Court to hear arguments on UP govt seeking withdrawal of case on December 23

Noida, Dec 18 (PTI) A fast-track court in Surajpur in Gautam Buddh Nagar district on Thursday fixed December 23 for hearing arguments on the Uttar Pradesh government's move to withdraw the case against the accused in the 2015 mob lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri, a lawyer involved in the matter said.

The state government has sought the court's permission to withdraw the case against all the accused in connection with Akhlaq's lynching in Bisahda village located within the Jarcha police station limits of Greater Noida -- an incident that had triggered countrywide outrage 10 years ago.

The matter came up on Thursday before the court of the additional district and sessions judge, where proceedings were held on the application seeking the withdrawal of the case.

Yusuf Saifi, the counsel for Akhlaq's family, said the court has asked both sides to present their views on December 23.

"The court has fixed December 23 for hearing arguments on the application seeking the withdrawal of the case. Both the parties have been directed to place their submissions on that date," Saifi said.

The lawyer said the prosecution had moved the application to withdraw the case pending before the court. Acting on directions from the state government and the joint director of prosecution, the application was filed by the assistant district government advocate (criminal).

According to officials, the application states that the withdrawal has been sought in the interest of maintaining social harmony.

The decision to move the court was taken in pursuance of a government order issued by the Justice Section-5 (Criminal) of the Uttar Pradesh government in Lucknow on August 26, 2025, they said.

Akhlaq was killed in September 2015 after a mob attacked him at his house in Bisahda over rumours that beef was stored there, an incident that had sparked a national debate on mob violence and communal tensions. PTI COR KIS RC