Brinda Karat writes to President seeking intervention in Dadri lynching case

Communist Party of India (Marxist) senior leader and former Rajya Sabha member Brinda Karat has written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu asking him to intervene in the 2015 Dadri mob lynching case of Muhammad Akhlaq, alleging that the Uttar Pradesh government, with the permission of the Governor, was trying to withdraw the prosecution in a way that would “subvert the entire judicial process”.

In her letter released to the media on Friday, December 12, 2025, Ms. Karat said that although the hearing was progressing and the statements of key witnesses were being recorded, the UP Governor had given written permission to the State government to withdraw the case.

“I am sorry to have to write to you on this matter, but since the Governor was appointed by you and is accountable to you, I felt that it would be in the interest of justice to inform you of the facts and seek your immediate intervention,” the CPI(M) leader wrote.

Akhlaq, a resident of Bisahda village in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, was lynched by a mob in front of his house on September 28, 2015, while his Danish son was seriously injured in the same attack. Ms. Karat stated that a case was registered under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including sections relating to murder, attempt to murder and sedition, sparking widespread outrage across the country at the time.

“In 2022, the victim’s daughter, who was a direct witness, testified and identified the names and identities of all the defendants. In other words, the evidence against the defendant was presented to the court and recorded. The case is ongoing and two other direct witnesses will also testify,” he said.

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According to Ms. Karat, the Uttar Pradesh government decided to withdraw the case on the following grounds: slat Instead of firearms, the absence of personal hostility with the victim and the claim that the continuation of the trial could lead to social disharmony. He claimed that delays caused by the prosecution itself were now being used as justification for the withdrawal request. “This is not being done to achieve the ends of justice, but to subvert the entire judicial process,” he said, calling the move a “blatant abuse” of Article 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Asking about the governor’s role, Ms. Karat asked whether it was the office’s constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law. “If such a case is withdrawn, what will remain of the justice process?” he wrote, warning that this could set a precedent for withdrawing mob lynching cases on similar grounds.

The CPI(M) leader urged the President to intervene and direct the Governor to withdraw the permission given to the State government. He said the matter was urgent and stated that the affidavit submitted by the State government seeking withdrawal of the case and approved by the Governor was scheduled to be heard in a district court in Greater Noida on December 12, but was postponed on the request of the prosecution.