A Fast Track Court in Surajpur, Gautam Budhha Nagar district, on December 23, 2025, rejected Uttar Pradesh government's request to withdraw the prosecution against 14 men accused in the 2015 lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq. Additional District Judge Saurabh Dwivedi dismissed the plea filed under Section 321 of the CrPC. The court called the case "most important" and ordered daily hearings. It also directed that the evidence related to the case be properly protected. The next hearing is set for January 6, 2026. The plea to drop charges was pushed by the Uttar Pradesh Government in October 2025. The Additional District Government Counsel filed the withdrawal application following government orders from August 26, 2025. The case dates back to September 28, 2015, when a crowd attacked Akhlaq and his son Danish in Dadri. The violence was sparked after an announcement at a village temple falsely claimed Akhlaq had slaughtered a cow. Akhlaq and his son were dragged from their home and beaten unconscious. Akhlaq later died at a hospital in Noida. Police registered an FIR under serious sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder (IPC 302), attempt to murder (307), rioting (147, 148, 149), assault (323), and intentional insult to disturb peace (504). In 2015, police charged 15 people, including Vishal Rana, son of a local BJP leader, who reportedly helped the mob attack Akhlaq's family. The court’s firm stand to continue the trial places focus back on this sensitive and high-profile case.