Gujarat Court Sentences Three Men to Life in Cow Slaughter Case

A court in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district has sentenced three men to life imprisonment in a cow slaughter case involving the seizure of 277 kg of beef. The court also imposed a fine of ₹3 lakh on each convict. Additional Sessions Judge BR Rajput delivered the verdict on Monday, citing the Manusmriti and other Hindu scriptures to explain the religious importance of cows.

The three convicts have been identified as Vasim Qureshi, Mohammad Rafiq Qureshi and Asfaq Bahelim. The case came to light after police raided a house in Jamla village on August 22, 2024. During the raid, officers allegedly recovered 277 kg of beef, weapons believed to have been used for slaughtering animals and a vehicle meant to transport the meat. Six people were reportedly arrested in connection with the case.

Court Cites Manusmriti and Hindu Scriptures

In its judgment, the court referred to the Manusmriti, the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures to reportedly explain the religious and cultural importance of cows. The judge noted that the Manusmriti discusses the responsibility of the Vaishya community to protect and care for cattle. The court also mentioned Kamadhenu, a divine cow in Hindu belief, and described the cow as the “mother of the world”.

• Meat seized: Police allegedly recovered 277 kg of beef during the raid.
• Court verdict: Three of the six accused were sentenced to life imprisonment.
• Fine imposed: Each convict was ordered to pay ₹3 lakh.

According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly bought weak or non-milking buffaloes and brought four people from Ahmedabad to slaughter the animals for financial gain. The meat was allegedly intended for sale to a man reportedly identified as Ghulam Moin. The prosecution presented 54 witnesses and 18 documentary exhibits during the trial. At the end of the trial, the court convicted three of the six accused.

Gujarat Law Provides for Life Imprisonment

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi welcomed the verdict and praised the police and prosecution for their work. He reportedly said the judgment sent a strong message that those involved in cow slaughter would face legal action. He also described cow protection as a firm commitment of the Gujarat government.

Gujarat amended its animal preservation law in 2017 to introduce life imprisonment for cow slaughter, making it the first state in India to prescribe such a punishment for the offence. The law also provides a 10-year prison term for the transportation, storage or sale of beef. Earlier, in 2011, the state government amended the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954, to strengthen restrictions on cow slaughter and the transportation and sale of cow meat.