Dadri lynching: Court allows disclosure of forensic report of meat found

A fast track court on Tuesday allowed the lawyers of the suspects who allegedly lynched a man in Bisada over rumours of eating and storing beef, to get a copy of the forensic report of the meat recovered from his fridge.

Fifty-two-year-old Mohammad Ikhlaq and his younger son Danish were attacked by a mob of locals at Bisada village in Dadri, 60 km from Delhi, in September 28, 2015.

Ikhlaq had died of injuries in a hospital while Danish survived with a fractured skull. The incident had triggered a nationwide debate over intolerance and beef politics.

The court rejected the application of the public prosecutor who had objected to the disclosure of the report. citing its irrelevance in the case.

“The court observed that the accused are eligible to get a copy of each report submitted to the court during the proceeding of the case. We have sought a certified copy of the report from the department concerned on Wednesday,” said Ram Sharan Nagar, counsel of the accused persons.

Nagar had sought disclosure of the forensic report, which the public prosecutor had objected to on May 4.

The next date of the hearing is May 25.

After the lynching in September last year, the mob had recovered a bowl full of meat from Ikhlaq’s fridge, which they claimed was beef. In an initial report, the local government veterinarian had termed the flesh as mutton.

Samples of the meat were sent for examination to the forensic sciences laboratory in Agra and Mathura, reports of which were submitted to the fast track court in April.

“The police are probing a case of murder and assault. The meat report will have no bearing on the case if the forensic report is made public,” said Mohammad Yusuf Saifi, counsel for Ikhlaq’s family.

The court allowed the counsel of the accused to have a copy of the statements of Danish and his sister Shaista, who are the key witnesses in the case.

The police have arrested eight people, including two juveniles, in the case so far and a chargesheet has been filed against them.