A court in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district has sentenced three persons to life imprisonment in a cow slaughter case after they were found in possession of 277 kg of beef, citing Hindu scriptures to underscore the religious significance of the cow.
Quoting the Manusmriti, an ancient Sanskrit text, the court observed that the cow is not merely an animal but is regarded as a pillar of material prosperity and ‘dharma’ (righteousness). “Sage Manu entrusted the primary responsibility for the protection and care of cattle to the ‘Vaishya’ class. In his judgment on Monday, Additional Sessions Judge BR Rajput also imposed a fine of ₹ 3 lakh on the convicts, Vasim Qureshi, Mohammad Rafiq Qureshi, and Asfaq Bahelim. Six persons were arrested with 277 kg of beef and weapons allegedly used to slaughter cows and a vehicle meant to transport the meat after a raid on a house in Jamla village of Gandhinagar district on August 22, 2024, according to the prosecution.
Furthermore, in the context of ‘Arsha Vivaha’ (a traditional form of Vedic marriage), the pair — a cow and a bull — holds special significance,” the judge said. Further quoting the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures, the court said that when drops of ‘amrita’ (nectar) fell to the earth through the power of penance, the divine cow Kamadhenu emerged and came to be regarded as the progenitor of all bovine species on earth.
After the trial, the court found three of the six men guilty. The prosecution produced 54 witnesses and 18 pieces of documentary evidence to establish the charges.
Citing the investigation, the prosecution said the accused intended to sell the beef to one Ghulam Moin.
