Uttar Pradesh Court rejects government plea to withdraw charges against Akhlaq murder accused

A court in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday rejected a petition filed by the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party government to withdraw all charges against persons accused in the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in 2015, The Indian Express reported.

Additional District Judge Saurabh Dwivedi ordered that the case be classified as “most important” and be heard on a daily basis. The judge also directed the government to write to the police to ensure that the evidence is safeguarded, according to The Indian Express.

The case has been listed for further hearing on January 6.

On September 28, 2015, 50-year-old Akhlaq was lynched following rumours that he and his family had killed a calf and eaten beef during Eid festivities.