The Bombay High Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to a man accused of selling cow meat in violation of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976. [Salim Ibrahim Shaikh v State of Maharashtra].Justice Rajesh Patil while granting the bail to Salim Ibrahim 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 report of the Dr Anita Kodibhau Date, the Veterinary Officer, Badlapur, District Than, will take some time. There is no such recovery to be made by the present applicant. There is criminal antecedent reported against the applicant in which he is granted bail. Therefore, I am of the view that suffice would be the purpose if the applicant is granted pre-arrest bail with stringent conditions including that of the applicant will not venture any such kind of the business in future. Hence, the following order."The case stemmed from an incident where 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. Acting on a tip-off, police from Central Police Station in Thane's Ullhasnagar raided Shaikh's mutton and beef shop 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. To support his defense, Shaikh submitted a 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..During the hearing, Shaikh's counsel argued that the accused should not be arrested as no recovery was to be made from him and the co-accused had already been granted bail. The accused also assured the court that he was willing to abide by any conditions imposed by the court.The Additional Public Prosecutor for the State opposed the bail, citing the applicant's criminal antecedents and arguing that granting bail would enable him to continue engaging in illegal activities related to the sale of prohibited animal meat. After considering the arguments and evidence presented, Justice Patil granted anticipatory bail to Shaikh. If arrested, he shall be released on bail, on furnishing PR bond to the extent of ₹30,000 with one or two sureties of the like amount..Advocate Rohan Hogle along with advocate Aadesh Konde Deshmukh instructed by advocate Sharan Bhagat appeared for accused.Additional Public Prosecutor Pallavi N Dabholkar appeared for State..[Read Order]
