Life Imprisonment for Three Family Members in Amreli Cow Slaughter Case
The quiet neighborhood of Mota Khatkivad in Amreli town has found itself at the center of a legal storm. On November 11, 2025, the area witnessed what authorities are calling a historic judgment when three members of the Solanki family were sentenced to life imprisonment for cow slaughter. The court also imposed a collective fine of over Rs 18 lakh on the convicted individuals.
The Case That Shocked a Community
The convicted include two brothers - Kasim (20) and Akram (30) - along with their uncle Satar (52). This case stands out among the 14 convictions under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act in Amreli district over the past three years, which have seen 24 people convicted total. What makes the Solanki case particularly notable is the severity of the punishment and that it involved three earning members of a single family.
Mota Khatkivad, known for its mixed Hindu-Muslim population and traditional involvement in butchery, has reacted with silence and fear. Neighbors refuse to comment, while the family itself fears speaking about the case due to potential consequences. A local familiar with the family revealed they live together, with Akram supporting a wife and four children.
"The family is in shock," the local source said. "A person gets a death sentence or life imprisonment for killing a human being. Here, three people have been sentenced to life for killing a calf of a cow. The family's three main earning members are in jail now. I do not know how they will raise the Rs 18 lakh for the fine."
Legal Proceedings and Evidence
The case dates back to November 6, 2023, when police acting on a tip-off raided the Solanki residence. Authorities allegedly recovered beef, remains of a slaughtered calf, and equipment used for animal slaughter. Subsequent analysis by a veterinary doctor and forensic tests confirmed the meat came from a cow.
This wasn't Akram's first offense under the law. He was already on bail from an earlier case where he had received a three-year rigorous imprisonment sentence and Rs 5,000 fine under the same legislation.
The Amreli Sessions Court convicted the trio not only under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act - which was amended in 2017 to increase maximum punishment from seven years to life imprisonment - but also under sections related to insulting religious beliefs and mischief by killing cattle. Each defendant was fined Rs 6.08 lakh, with additional jail time threatened for non-payment.
Political Reactions and Future Implications
The Gujarat government welcomed what it called a "historic" order, seeing it as validation of their commitment to cow preservation. Chandresh Mehta, the Special Public Prosecutor for cow slaughter cases in Amreli district who is associated with the VHP, described the judgment as "landmark."
"There was a timely tip-off, the police raid was conducted successfully, there was strong scientific and documentary evidence, very good investigation, and evidence of witnesses," Mehta explained, attributing the conviction rate to his dedication. "Amreli has emerged as an epicenter of such convictions in Gujarat because I work hard on the cases."
Mehta claimed these convictions have significantly reduced cow slaughter in the district, with only one or two cases reported in the past two years. "The convictions have instilled fear in those indulging in such acts," he stated, hoping the judgment would serve as a strong deterrent.
However, Ward No. 9 Corporator Iqbal Bilakhiya expressed concerns about potential wrongful convictions. While agreeing with punishing actual criminals, he noted that "the government and police act with prejudice under pressure from groups like the VHP on such issues." He also questioned the government's commitment to cow welfare, pointing to the unresolved problem of stray cows on city roads.
Local resident Nitin Karya echoed this sentiment, welcoming the court's action while urging the government to address the stray cattle issue more comprehensively.
Of the 14 cow slaughter convictions in Amreli district, 11 have been specifically for cow slaughter, with nine convictions coming from the court of Sessions Judge Rizvana Bukhari, including the Solanki case. The family now faces the dual challenge of appealing the conviction while managing the substantial financial penalty.
