Mutton seller accused of selling beef gets bail

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A 30-year-old specially challenged man booked for allegedly selling beef has been granted anticipatory bail by the Karnataka High Court after it found the meat was not recovered from him.

The conditional bail was granted after the counsel of the accused informed the court that he was ready to face trial in the matter. Hyder Ali aka Thaju, a resident of Hosakote, approached the High Court seeking bail after his plea before a lower court was rejected. He is one of the accused in a case filed under the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act.

The case is pending before a Magistrate court in Hosakote. Hyder Ali is the accused number three in the case. Hyder Ali's advocate argued before Justice TG Shivashankare Gowda that Ali ran a mutton shop in Hosakote and he is a specially challenged person with 60 percent disability.

He was booked in the case after two persons who had been arrested by the police confessed that they had purchased the beef from him. His advocate argued that no beef was recovered from Ali and he was ready to abide by any conditions if anticipatory bail was granted to him. The Government advocate opposed Ali's bail plea stating he was “also dealing with the beef business".

The HC in its judgement said, “The learned counsel for the petitioner has made available the disability certificate issued by the Medical Board, Bengaluru, which explains that the petitioner is suffering from 60 per cent physical disability. The offences alleged are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life.

The petitioner has come forward to assist the investigation. Accused Nos.1 and 2 were already arrested and released on bail by the Trial Court. Hence, sufficient grounds were made out for grant of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner by imposing conditions.”