Overview
- Additional District Judge Saurabh Dwivedi dismissed the government's Section 321 CrPC plea, calling the 2015 lynching a serious crime against society.
- The court directed day-to-day hearings, told prosecutors to present witnesses expeditiously, and asked police officials to ensure protection of evidence.
- State lawyers cited inconsistent witness statements, absence of seized firearms or sharp weapons, and a claim of restoring social harmony to justify withdrawal.
- Government counsel said he filed the application on instructions, while the court kept the matter on a fast track with the next listing on January 6, 2026.
- Akhlaq’s wife has challenged the withdrawal move in the Allahabad High Court, as the long-running case proceeds against 14 surviving accused from the 18 originally arrested.