The Allahabad High Court recently observed that even though there is a ban on cow slaughter in Uttar Pradesh, the practice is still going on. The bench of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, coming down heavily upon UP Police, said that whenever an FIR is lodged in such cases, flexible behaviour is adopted by the police and the investigation is not completed on time, that is why the crime of cow slaughter is continuously increasing in this state.
“It seems that the police department is not serious in such matters, which directly benefits such criminals and also increases their morale,” said the single-judge bench.
Taking a serious view, the bench ordered the police commissioner of Prayagraj to present the complete report before the high court through an affidavit as to how many cases of cow slaughter have been registered in the district from the year 2019 till date and how many are under investigation.
“On the next date, the Police Commissioner, Prayagraj will be personally present before this court with an affidavit, otherwise the Home Secretary of the State Government will appear before the court along with the progress report of the FIR lodged pertaining to cow slaughter from the year 2019 till date. Otherwise, the court will be forced to pass an order against them,” directed the bench.
Regarding the case at hand, the bench observed that it was from the year 2019 and the investigation had not been completed to date.
The bench was dealing with an anticipatory bail petition filed by one Saif Ali Khan in a case registered under sections 3/5/8 of the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955.
As per the prosecution, from Khan’s possession, 1.5 quintal cow meat was recovered. The court noted that the report of the Forensic Science Laboratory dated 30.09.2019 was also on record in which beef had been confirmed.
The court ordered the case to be listed as fresh on November 30, 2023.
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