Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Uttar Pradesh drops Muzaffarnagar riot cases against 22 leaders
In the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, some important people were accused of helping start a big fight in 2013.
The fight happened in a city called Muzaffarnagar and many people got hurt.
More than 50 people died, and around 50,000 families had to leave their homes for a while.
The people accused were leaders from two political groups, the BJP and the Samajwadi Party.
They were told they caused rioting, scared people, and stopped officials from doing their jobs.
Now the state government, led by Yogi Adityanath, has decided to drop the cases against 22 of those leaders.
A judge in a special court said okay to this decision.
This means those leaders will not be punished for the charges anymore.
The Uttar Pradesh government has withdrawn all cases against 22 BJP and Samajwadi Party leaders allegedly involved in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.
The additional chief judicial magistrate of Muzaffarnagar's special MP-MLA Court accepted the withdrawal application on Thursday.
The 2013 riots claimed over 50 lives and left around 50,000 families temporarily homeless.
Prominent leaders cleared include ministers Kapildev Agrawal, Suresh Rana, Sanjeev Balyan, and Samajwadi Party MP Harendra Malik.
Charges had originally ranged from rioting and inciting violence to obstructing government officers and intimidating individuals.
- Who
- The Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh and 22 BJP and Samajwadi Party leaders, including ministers Kapildev Agrawal, Suresh Rana and Sanjeev Balyan.
- What
- Withdrew all cases against the 22 leaders allegedly involved in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.
- When
- The court accepted the withdrawal application on Thursday.
- Where
- The special MP-MLA Court in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Why
- The state government filed an application to withdraw the cases, which the presiding magistrate accepted.
- Government
- Uttar Pradesh (led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath)
- Number of leaders
- 22 (BJP and Samajwadi Party)
- Event
- 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots
- Casualties
- Over 50 deaths
- Displaced
- About 50,000 families temporarily homeless
- Court
- Special MP-MLA Court, Muzaffarnagar
- Magistrate
- Devendra Singh Fauzdar (additional chief judicial magistrate)
- Charges dropped
- Rioting, instigating violence, obstructing government officers, intimidating individuals