In cases of animal trafficking, the purchase receipts and the authenticity of the seller should be verified
Mumbai High Court’s landmark judgment
Mumbai – In two separate cases involving buffalo smuggling from Wardha and Yavatmal, the Mumbai High Court has convicted Akbar Bhura Bhai Sindhi and Abdul Samad. Police investigations revealed that the accused were transporting buffaloes for slaughter under the false pretence of taking them home. It was proven in Court that fabricated purchase receipts had been presented in both cases. Consequently, the Court has ordered that, in future animal smuggling cases, the authenticity of receipts must be verified, along with statements from sellers and the legitimacy of livestock markets.
📌 “In cases of animal trafficking, the purchase receipts and the authenticity of the seller should be verified” – Bombay High Court
👉 #Hindus are still longing for a law that would punish the cow traffickers with life imprisonment. This alone would to stop cattle trafficking… pic.twitter.com/vXotVv7SVy
— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) November 1, 2024
In September 2023, Police arrested Abdul Samad in Yavatmal while he was transporting 17 buffaloes crammed into a vehicle. Likewise, in April 2024, Akbar Bhura Bhai Sindhi was arrested in Wardha while transporting 16 buffaloes in a similarly cruel manner. Both men claimed to have purchased the buffaloes from farmers for personal use. However, Magistrate and Sessions Courts found them guilty. Their appeals to the Mumbai High Court led to a combined hearing at the Nagpur Bench, which recently upheld the lower Courts’ verdicts. Advocates Raju Gupta and S V Kolhe represented the prosecution.
The High Court determined that Abdul and Akbar had committed fraud by presenting fabricated receipts and falsely claiming they had purchased the buffaloes for personal use, deceiving the Police in the process.
A significant verdict to curb animal smuggling in the future – Advocate Raju Gupta
Advocate Raju Gupta, representing the State, expressed his views to the Sanatan Prabhat correspondent, stating, “In many instances, Police accept receipts related to animal transportation as genuine without further verification. Past cases have shown a lack of scrutiny in the Courts also. In view of the frequency of such incidents, the Court’s directives are crucial in preventing future smuggling operations from relying on forged documents and deceptive practices. These measures will be instrumental in curbing animal smuggling in the future.”
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