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Akhlaq’s relatives who are key prosecution witnesses will be provided police protection, says UP court

Mohammad Akhlaq’s lawyer informed the court that the brother-in-law of Akhlaq’s elder son had passed away, and hence the family could not attend the hearing.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 7, 2026 04:18 AM IST

Witnesses absent, UP court to hear Mohammad Akhlaq lynching case on Thursday

The court in Surajpur had earlier rejected the Uttar Pradesh government’s plea to withdraw all charges against the accused in the 2015 lynching of Akhlaq

A city court in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday said that the relatives of Mohammad Akhlaq, who are key prosecution witnesses in the 2015 lynching case, will be provided police protection when they come to record their depositions during the trial.

The court in Surajpur is set to resume hearing in the case on Thursday after the witnesses could not attend Tuesday’s hearing. “You want the matter to be adjourned today. I have sent a letter to both the Commissioner of Police, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Greater Noida, to ensure the security of the witness,” Additional District Judge Saurabh Dwivedi said.

Mohammad Yusuf Saifi, representing Akhlaq’s family, told the court that the brother-in-law of Sartaaz, Akhlaq’s elder son, had died this week, and hence the family members could not attend the hearings.

The Additional District Judge asked if the matter should be listed on Wednesday. To this, Saifi asked if they could get a new date of January 8 and the court agreed.

The court had earlier rejected the state government’s plea to withdraw all charges against the accused in the 2015 lynching case. The Additional District Judge had directed that the case be categorised as “most important” and be heard daily. The court also directed the prosecution to record the evidence in the case at the earliest.

Akhlaq, 50, was beaten to death by a mob over alleged rumours that he had killed a cow and stored the meat in his home in Dadri’s Bisada village in Gautam Buddha Nagara district.

On October 15 last year, the UP government had moved an application to withdraw prosecution in the case, citing reasons that ranged from allegedly inconsistent statements made by Akhlaq’s kin in naming the accused and that no firearms or sharp weapons were recovered from the accused, to the absence of previous enmity or hostility between the accused and the victim.

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In its order, the court had said that it had carefully studied the judgments of the Supreme Court in Sheo Nandan Paswan vs State of Bihar (1987) and Tehseen S Poonawala vs Union of India (2018) that were cited by counsel for the victim, and State of Kerala vs K. Ajith and Others (2021), which was cited by counsel for the accused.

Relying on the verdict of a five-judge bench in the Sheo Nandan Paswan case, the court had said that the victims had the right to object, and the objection was fit to be heard and taken cognisance of. The matter dealt with in the Ajith case was not related to ‘mob lynching’, the court said.

The court had said that murder is a crime against society, and the state carries out prosecution so that “the fear of law remains ingrained in society”. The prayer of the prosecution for withdrawal was without any basis, and fit for rejection, it added.

Neetika Jha

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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