Asaduddin Owaisi Slams CM Yogi Adityanath After UP Govt Drops Akhlaq Lynching Case

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi sharply criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party–led Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday, days after the Yogi Adityanath administration moved to withdraw the mob lynching case against the accused in the death of Mohammad Akhlaq. Owaisi alleged that the decision proved the BJP “always stands with the guilty,” directly questioning the government’s commitment to justice and Law and Order.

Taking a strong swipe at the Chief Minister, Owaisi said Yogi Adityanath often speaks about strengthening law and order, but the government’s actions reflect the “true face” of the BJP. He further added that “injustice cannot be the basis of social harmony,” responding to the state government’s argument that the withdrawal was in the interest of maintaining communal peace.

The 2015 Lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq: What Happened?

The case dates back to September 28, 2015, when Akhlaq, a resident of Bisada village in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, was lynched by a mob following rumours that he had slaughtered a cow and stored its meat at home. The mob dragged Akhlaq and his son from their house after an announcement was reportedly made from a local temple accusing them of killing a cow.

Akhlaq was brutally assaulted and later died at a Noida hospital due to severe injuries. His son, who suffered major head injuries, eventually recovered. The incident shocked the nation and marked one of the earliest and most widely discussed cases of mob lynching linked to cow vigilantism.

The Uttar Pradesh government’s recent decision to drop the charges was taken on November 15. All 15 accused — who were named in the 2015 chargesheet — remain out on bail.

Owaisi’s Response: “Ten Years, No Justice”

Reacting to the withdrawal of the case, Owaisi said that nearly a decade has passed since Akhlaq’s killing, yet not a single person has been punished. He emphasised that Akhlaq’s family continues to suffer from the trauma of witnessing the lynching firsthand.

“In 2015, Akhlaq was lynched in Dadri on the false accusation of possessing beef. At that time, Indians didn’t even fully understand what lynching meant. Today, it has become common. Akhlaq’s family still hasn’t recovered from that trauma. In ten years, no one has been punished. Now, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has decided to withdraw the cases against Akhlaq’s killers,” Owaisi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Government’s Withdrawal Application Still Pending Before Court

Bhag Singh Bhati, Additional District Government Counsel (Gautam Buddha Nagar), earlier confirmed that the withdrawal application — issued by the state government — was submitted to the appropriate court on October 15. The court has scheduled a hearing for December 12, though no final order has been issued yet.

The original FIR in the case included charges under IPC sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 147 and 148 (rioting and rioting with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 504 (intentional insult), among others. The Gautam Buddha Nagar police chargesheet named 15 accused, including Vishal Rana, son of a local BJP leader, and his cousin Shivam, identifying them as the main conspirators who allegedly led the mob to Akhlaq’s house.

Forensic Report and Controversy Over Meat Samples

The meat seized from Akhlaq’s home was sent to a forensic laboratory in Mathura for examination. The lab report later stated that the meat belonged to a “cow or its progeny.” Akhlaq’s family, however, maintained that the samples had been tampered with and that the allegations against him were fabricated.

The dropping of charges has reignited debates around mob violence, communal tensions, and the role of state administrations in prosecuting such cases. While the government argues that the move aims to maintain social harmony, critics like Owaisi claim it undermines justice and strengthens impunity for mob crimes.