Bombay HC Grants Pre-Arrest Bail To Ulhasnagar Butcher Accused Of Selling Cow Meat, Forensic Report Awaited

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday granted pre arrest bail to a man accused of selling cow meat in violation of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976.

Justice Rajesh Patil while granting the bail to Salim Shaikh observed that there was no such recovery made as alleged by the police and the forensic report on the meat was still pending. The court noted that although there is criminal antecedent reported against Shaikh, he has been granted bail in the case.

Shaikh was accused of selling cow meat, which is illegal under Maharashtra law. Although, sale of cow meat is prohibited under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, the sale of buffalo meat is legal in the state.

Police raided his shop on Ulhasnagar and seized 110 kilograms of alleged beef from the premises. Shaikh, a licensed butcher who legally sells mutton and buffalo meat, maintained that the seized flesh was buffalo, not cow. He produced purchase receipt showing the meat was procured from a buffalo. A sample of the seized meat was sent for forensic examination and the report is still awaited.