The birthday gathering
Contemporary court reporting says Anil Akari hosted an early-morning birthday gathering in Dubai on December 16, 2013. Several friends attended, including S.J., a 29-year-old cook from India. Witnesses told the court that alcohol was consumed and that an argument developed after Akari insulted S.J.'s brother.
According to the prosecution evidence summarized in court coverage, S.J. left the studio apartment and returned shortly afterward with a knife. Akari was stabbed, and another guest was injured while trying to intervene. Other people at the gathering restrained S.J. until police arrived.
Evidence and trial
Forensic evidence established that Akari suffered two stab wounds, with one causing his death. S.J. acknowledged the stabbing but argued that he had been heavily intoxicated and had not intended to kill Akari.
The Dubai Criminal Court convicted S.J. of premeditated murder and imposed a 15-year prison sentence in July 2014. He also received a separate one-month sentence for consuming alcohol and was ordered to be deported after completing the prison term.
Appeals
The Court of Appeal upheld the 15-year murder sentence on December 17, 2014. S.J. then challenged the judgment before Dubai's Court of Cassation.
On February 2, 2015, the Court of Cassation rejected the appeal and upheld the conviction and sentence. The reviewed reporting describes that decision as the defendant's final court appeal in Dubai.
Timeline
December 16, 2013: Anil Akari is killed during his birthday gathering in Dubai.
July 14, 2014: Dubai Criminal Court sentences S.J. to 15 years for premeditated murder.
December 17, 2014: the Court of Appeal upholds the 15-year sentence.
February 2, 2015: the Court of Cassation rejects the final appeal and leaves the conviction and sentence in force.
Current status
The case is classified as Solved / Adjudicated. A defendant was convicted of Anil Akari's murder, and the judgment survived both appellate and cassation review. The file does not speculate about the defendant's identity beyond the initials used by the contemporary court reports.