Haryana cow Act: Two sent to 5-year jail

Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 20

Hakam, a resident of Uttawar village in Palwal, and Riyaj of Raniyala village, also in Palwal, were today held guilty under the Gauvansh Sanrakshan Act enacted by the Khattar government in 2015. It is the first such conviction under the Haryana law against cow slaughter. 

Palwal Additional District and Sessions Judge Anubhav Sharma sentenced the two to five years in jail. While Hakam was fined Rs 1 lakh, Riyaj was asked to pay Rs 50,000.

According to the prosecution, the police stopped a pick-up van going towards Hapur and found 170 skins inside. Van occupants Hakam and Riyaj tried to flee, but were arrested. “Skins with fresh (blood) stains and pieces of beef” were found in the vehicle. 

The defence counsel argued that the recovered skins were hides and did not fall in the definition of  ‘beef’ as spelled out under the Gauvansh Sanrakshan Act, that Hakam and Riyaj were only transporters carrying goods for another person and that there was no evidence to establish that the skins were procured by way of slaughter. 

The court, however, observed that while there was evidence to establish that the skins were that of cow and were fresh, the accused had failed to prove that they were transporting the skins after receiving the same from an authorised contractor, simply arguing that the “recovery is false”.

The court held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that Hakam and Riyaj were guilty under Sections 3 and 8 of the Gauvansh Sanrakshan Act.