According to a report in a leading daily, family of deceased Mohammad Akhlaq has complained to the police that a local BJP leader's son was involved in inciting the murderous mob.

The report quotes Additional District Magistrate Rajesh Yadav who says that one of the five accused is Vishal, son of local BJP leader Sanjay Rana. The rumour that beef was stored in Akhlaq's house was announced by the priest of a local temple. According to the family members of Akhlaq, Vishal coerced the priest to make the announcement. The priest has already gone on record to say that he was forced to do so.

However according to the police, the priest is repeatedly changing his version of how the event unfolded. BJP leader Sanjay Rana has refuted all allegations saying Akhlaq was like his brother and he intimated the police about the horrific lynching incident. He claims to be a dedicated member of the party with association spanning over 20 years.

BJP though claims that currently Rana is not holding any party post.

Union cultural minister Mahesh Sharma on Friday stoked another controversy after he reiterated his stand that the lynching of Mohamad Akhlaq was an accident. Sharma also said that no "communal colour" should be given to the incident.

The minister visited the Bisara village in Dadri where he met the family as well as spoke to a Sabha that was attended by nearly 200 people. The sabha was organised inside the same temple which was used to make an announcement on Monday night calling for people to gather outside Mohamad Akhlaq's home. Akhlaq was later beaten to death by a mob accusing him of eating and storing beef.