In a major legal blow to the Uttar Pradesh government, the district court in Surajpur has dismissed the state's petition to withdraw charges against the accused in the Akhlaq lynching case. The court made it clear that the case will not be closed, and the trial against the accused will continue. During the hearing, the court criticized the prosecution's arguments as baseless and irrelevant, stating that no solid legal grounds were presented for withdrawing the case.

In September 2015, a mob brutally killed Akhlaq in Bisahra, Greater Noida, under the suspicion that he possessed beef at his home. This incident of mob lynching shocked the nation. Currently, 18 accused individuals are facing trial, all of whom are out on bail. In October of this year, the UP government unexpectedly decided to withdraw the case.

The UP government had filed a petition in court, citing the need to withdraw the case against all accused and seeking permission from the Joint Director of Prosecutions. However, the court's ruling has made it clear that the trial will proceed against all individuals involved in the Akhlaq murder case.

On the night of September 28, 2015, rumors about prohibited meat led to the mob attack that resulted in Akhlaq's death. The incident sparked widespread outrage across the country. Akhlaq's son, Danish, aged 22, also sustained serious injuries during the attack. Following an investigation, a total of 19 individuals were charged with serious offenses, including murder and inciting riots.

Yusuf Saifi, the lawyer representing Akhlaq's family, stated that the court has rejected the prosecution's plea. The court has instructed the prosecution to proceed with recording witness statements. Additionally, the police commissioner and DCP have been directed to provide protection to witnesses if necessary. Previous hearings on December 12 and 18 had been delayed due to requests for more time from the prosecution. During the proceedings, CPM leader Brinda Karat also attended the court, emphasizing that this is a significant step towards justice and sends an important message across the country. The UP government had attempted to influence the judicial process, similar to previous cases like that of Bilkis Bano.