Overview
- The Uttar Pradesh government filed the withdrawal application on October 15 under Section 321 CrPC to end the case against all accused, with officials saying the move followed state directions and reporting written approval from the Governor.
- The Surajpur sessions court has listed the plea for December 12, and prosecutors say the trial continues in the meantime with all accused on bail and the first prosecution witness’s testimony underway.
- In its filing, the state cites inconsistencies in the family’s statements, the absence of recovered firearms or sharp weapons, and no recorded prior enmity between the parties as key reasons to drop the case.
- Courts must independently consent to any Section 321 withdrawal, and legal precedent requires proof that ending the prosecution serves public justice rather than extraneous considerations.
- Opposition leaders have criticized the move as a dangerous precedent, while the case record reflects disputed meat reports from 2016 and a 2021 preliminary veterinary finding indicating mutton.