Bhopal Sessions Court Grants Bail in Cow Meat Smuggling Case
A sessions court in Bhopal has granted bail to Aslam Qureshi, who was arrested in connection with the alleged smuggling of cow meat from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) slaughterhouse in Jinsi. Qureshi operated the facility under contract, and his arrest followed an incident on December 17, 2025, when cow vigilantes intercepted a container they claimed was transporting cow meat for illegal export from the slaughterhouse.
Legal Arguments and Evidence Discrepancies
Earlier this week, a judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) court had denied bail to Qureshi, citing the seriousness of the charges and the early stage of the case. However, in the sessions court presided over by Judge Pankaj Kumar Jain on Wednesday, defense counsel Jagdish Gupta presented a compelling case for bail.
Gupta argued that the offense for which Qureshi was arrested is not a major crime, as it carries a maximum punishment of one to seven years. He referenced a Supreme Court ruling that bail should be granted in cases where the maximum punishment is seven years or less, emphasizing that the case is triable by the JMFC court and thus qualifies as minor.
Key evidence issues were highlighted during the hearing:
- The veterinary department's lab in Bhopal reported that the seized meat was from buffaloes.
- A lab in Mathura contradicted this, stating it was cow meat.
- A Hyderabad lab refused to conduct DNA and RT-PCR tests because the meat sample had rotted by the time it arrived.
CCTV Footage and Court Decision
Gupta further contended that CCTV footage presented by the special investigation team (SIT) did not show any cows being brought into the slaughterhouse. In an interview with TOI, Gupta revealed that the judge reviewed the footage and, after being convinced that no cows were visible entering the facility, decided to grant bail.
Aslam Qureshi was released on bail after furnishing a personal bond and a surety of Rs 35,000 each. This decision marks a significant turn in the case, which has drawn attention due to the involvement of cow vigilantes and the broader implications for meat smuggling allegations in the region.
The case continues to unfold as investigations proceed, with authorities examining the conflicting lab reports and other evidence to determine the veracity of the smuggling claims.
