The Kalol Additional Sessions Court in Gandhinagar has sentenced three men to life imprisonment in a 2024 cow slaughter and beef sale case. While delivering the verdict, the court cited Hindu religious scriptures and the Vedas to explain the significance of the cow.
At the beginning of its judgment, the court quoted a shloka stating that the cow is regarded as the mother of the world and is beneficial to human life and society. Protecting the cow is an act associated with dharma and compassion, while justice serves to protect the truth. Wherever cow slaughter takes place, legal action must follow, and if the charges against the accused are established through evidence, they must receive appropriate punishment under the law.
The court observed, “Dharma and justice can be established only by following the path of justice. Protecting living beings and ensuring compliance with the law are important duties of a just society.”
The court cited the Manusmriti, stating, “According to Hindu religious scriptures, the cow is not merely an animal but is regarded as a pillar of dharma. According to the Vedas and religious texts, when drops of divine nectar fell upon the Earth from Brahma’s mouth during his penance, Kamadhenu emerged from these divine drops. She is regarded as the mother of all cattle on Earth.”
The court also cited the Rigveda, stating that the cow is described as ‘Adhanya’, meaning one that must never be killed or slaughtered.
Quoting another shloka, the court explained that its decision on the merits of the case had been reached while keeping the significance of the cow in mind.
The Kalol Additional Sessions Court convicted three accused — Wasim Qureshi, Mohammad Rafiq Qureshi and Ashfaq Behlime — of cow slaughter and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Two other accused, Ghulam Moin Qureshi and Vitthal Senma, were acquitted. Proceedings against another accused, Lalabhai Senma, were terminated following his death during the trial.
The three convicted men were found guilty under Section 325 (mischief by killing or maiming animals) and Section 54 (liability in cases involving the presence of multiple persons) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; Section 119 of the Gujarat Police Act; Sections 5, 6(a), 6(b), 8(2) and 8(4) of the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 2017; Section 11(1)(l) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960; and Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The court sentenced all three men to life imprisonment under the animal preservation laws and imposed a fine of ₹2 lakh on each of them.
While pronouncing the sentence, the court observed, “Despite being aware of the consequences, the accused mercilessly slaughtered a cow regarded as a mother and attempted to sell approximately 277 kilograms of beef obtained from it. If those who cruelly slaughter cows are not punished as prescribed by law, Gau Mata will gradually become extinct from the Earth. Therefore, it is necessary to award the accused the maximum punishment permitted under the law.”
The judgment was delivered on October 26 by the court of Judge B. R. Rajput.
What was the case about?
On August 22, 2024, the Kalol police in Gandhinagar raided a house in Dhankani Vas, located in Jamla village, and apprehended individuals allegedly involved in cow slaughter. The police recovered 277 kilograms of meat from the premises. Laboratory testing subsequently confirmed that the meat was beef.
The police also seized weapons allegedly used for cattle slaughter, vehicles and other items worth a total of ₹3.61 lakh.
A case was subsequently registered against five accused at the Kalol Taluka police station under Sections 325 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Gujarat Police Act, the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act and provisions of the central government’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The accused were arrested. A separate case was later registered against a sixth accused. The accused were released on bail at different times between September and December 2024.
According to the police chargesheet, Lalabhai Senma, a resident of Jamla, and his son, Vitthal Senma, allegedly purchased weak cows and buffaloes that had stopped producing milk from surrounding areas at low prices. They would then call the other accused, who allegedly slaughtered the animals and sold the meat.
Lalabhai Senma, Wasim Qureshi, Mohammad Rafiq Qureshi and Ashfaq Behlime were apprehended at the scene, while the remaining two accused, Ghulam Moin Qureshi and Vitthal Senma, were arrested subsequently.
The court concluded that the prosecution had established the charges against the first four accused, while Ghulam Moin Qureshi and Vitthal Senma were acquitted due to a lack of evidence. Lalabhai Senma died during the proceedings.
The remaining three accused were sentenced to life imprisonment.
