Greater Noida, Jan. 23 -- A district court in Gautam Budh Nagar on Thursday rejected an application to transfer the 2015 Ikhlaq lynching case, ruling that proceedings cannot be shifted merely on assumptions or because an adverse order was passed against the accused.

The court of district judge Atul Shrivastava held that a case cannot be transferred solely because the "sentiments of a particular community are hurt."

The case will now proceed before additional district judge (Fast Track Court) Saurabh Dwivedi, with the next hearing scheduled for Friday.

The transfer plea was moved on January 8 by counsel for the accused, Dinesh Kumar, after Ikhlaq's wife Ikraman, the first informant in the case, appeared before ADJ Dwivedi, to record her...