Overview

• The Hathras district court on August 6 formally charged 11 accused under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy along with provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.
• The charges stem from the July 2, 2024 stampede at a satsang in the Sikandrarao area that killed 121 people and prompted SIT and judicial commission inquiries into crowd control failures.
• Devprakash Madhukar and other close aides of self-styled godman Surajpal were among those charged while Surajpal himself faces no allegations in the case.
• With the matter entering the evidence stage, trial proceedings are set to begin on August 18 when the prosecution will call hundreds of witnesses.
• Defence counsel has maintained that the tragedy was accidental and alleged that police fabricated the case to conceal their own negligence.