Ahmedabad: A city sessions court convicted two persons to seven years’ imprisonment for stealing cows for the purpose of slaughter and imposed a fine of Rs 1.05 lakh on them.
Additional sessions judge H G Pandya punished Imran Shaikh, 35, and Mohsin Shaikh, 29, residents of Danilimda, but acquitted two others – Hashim Qureshi and Taufiq Shaikh – due to inadequate evidence.
According to the prosecution’s case, all four allegedly stole a pregnant cow and a calf from a cowshed in Kubernagar in Jan 2023. They stuffed the animals into a hatchback car. While they were on their way back, the vehicle met with an accident, and their alleged crime was exposed. Imran and Mohsin were caught from the vehicle, whereas the other two allegedly escaped. Their names were revealed in the statements of the arrested individuals. The four were booked for stealing the cows, forgery and abetment under the IPC provisions, as well as under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The prosecution examined 16 witnesses and supplied 14 documents to the court during the trial. The court found evidence to convict Imran and Mohsin but acquitted the two others, stating that the link connecting them to the offence was weak. “They were not found at the crime scene immediately after the incident, and they were considered accused solely on the basis of the statements of co-accused. During the investigation, some evidence emerged, but it is insufficient to convict them,” the court said.
For the convicts, the court stated, “They were caught transporting cattle with an intent to slaughter them. They were found at the scene of the accident with the vehicle involved. The cattle being transported were returned alive to their original owner. However, one of the cows was pregnant, which is a matter of concern for this court.”
The court did not award the maximum punishment, which is 10 years under Sections 6A and 8 of the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, but instead sentenced them to seven years in jail because they had no criminal antecedents.