Greater Noida, Dec. 13 -- A fast-track court in Greater Noida, while hearing arguments on the Uttar Pradesh government's request to withdraw the Mohammad Ikhlaq lynching case, asked on Friday whether a murder case had ever been withdrawn by the prosecution.

"Has a Section 302 case ever been withdrawn?" additional district judge (fast-track court) Saurabh Dwivedi asked twice during proceedings, as both sides presented preliminary arguments on the state's withdrawal application filed on September 12.

Ikhlaq's lawyer sought time to file a formal objection to the government's plea. The court granted the request and listed the next hearing for December 18.

The brief hearing lasted only a few minutes. Assistant district government counsel (A...