Translations:Lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq/19/en
In October 2025 the Uttar Pradesh government applied to the Surajpur court to withdraw the prosecution against all the accused; its counsel argued that withdrawal would restore social harmony.[1][2] On 23 December 2025 the fast-track court rejected the application as neither legally sustainable nor in the interest of justice, ordered day-to-day hearings and directed police to protect any witness who sought security. At the time 14 accused were on bail.[2][3] Akhlaq's wife had also petitioned the Allahabad High Court against the state's application.[2]