One of the accused in the Mohammad Akhlaq case in Dadri lynching incident, will reportedly contest the 2019 General Elections. According to a report in the Times of India, Rupendra Rana, one of the accused in the case, will be contesting from Noida.

Rupendra Rana will reportedly be contesting the election on Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena party ticket.

The Uttar Pradesh Navnirman party is the same party that had offered a ticket to Shambhulal Regar and triggered controversy. Shambhulal Regar was arrested for burning a Muslim man alive in Rajasthan's Rajsamand area. The heinous crime was also recorded and shared through a video. Shambhulal Regar, Who Hacked Man to Death on Camera, 'Set to Contest' From Agra in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

And the list doesn't stop here. The controversial outfit has also offered a ticket to Haryanvi singer Vikas Kumar, who was in news for sending legal notice of Rs 7 crore to the team of Veeray Ki Wedding. 

The UP Navnirman Sena chairperson Amit Jani, talking to TOI, said that Rana, an accused in the Dadri lynching case, was offered a ticket as he is the "perfect person" to protect cows. Jani also said that Rana's credentials cannot be questioned as Rana has served two and a half years in jail for "respect of Gaumata".

On September 28, 2015, Mohammad Akhlaq and his son Danish was attacked by a mob over suspicion of beef consumption and storing beef at their house. Akhlaq died after being beaten badly and his son Danish survived. Eighteen people were arrested in the case with charges of murder and assault on them.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2018 04:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).