In 2020, Akhlaq was the victim of what he and his family alleges was a brutal anti-Muslim hate crime. While the FIR on the attack on him has gone 'nowhere', a POCSO case slapped on him has now resulted in an acquital.
A video of the incident which has now gone viral shows the man in question being beaten up by a group of men carrying pistols. Similar incidents of cow vigilantism were reported from two other villages in the state.
The victim alleged that among those who assaulted him were aides of former BJP MLA Raghvendra Pratap Singh, who has made headlines recently due to his many documented instances of hate speech against Muslims.