Habitual cow smuggler denied bail

S Shyam Prasad | NT

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka has denied anticipatory bail to a person accused of illegally transporting a cow inside his car after finding that he was a habitual offender who had broken his bail conditions in earlier cases.

Abdul Munaf, a 32-year-old from Udupi approached the HC seeking anticipatory bail after he was charged by the police in Udupi under the Karnataka Preventoin of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance, Motor Vehicle Act and the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act. The case is pending before the JMFC court in Kundapura.

According to the police, constables on patrolling duty near Kasba Grame on July 8, 2022 at around 1.45 am tried to stop a car coming from Hangluru on suspicion. But the driver of the car did not stop and sped away. The driver and others in the car abandoned the car a few kilometres away and ran away.

The police found a cow tied with nylon ropes inside the car. The constables saw the occupants of the car running away and chased them. He identified Abdul Munaf as one of them. A complaint was filed by him later.

Abdul Munaf’s advocate argued in the bail petition before the HC that he was innocent and framed in the case. The car belonged to someone else, which is proved by the vehicle documents. The government advocate pointed out that the constable who found the car identified Abdul Munaf as the driver.

It was also submitted that Munaf was involved in similar cases earlier and is likely to commit similar offences again. The HC in its judgement said, “Prima facie, the evidence placed by the prosecution would establish that the petitioner is already involved in similar offences and he was identified by the complainant, as being involved in similar offences.

Hence, he appears to be a habitual offender and in breach of earlier conditions, he is involved in the offences noted above.” Dismissing his bail plea, Justice Rajendra Badamikar said, “Looking at the above facts and circumstances, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is required and if he is granted anticipatory bail, there is every possibility of him tampering with the prosecution witnesses.”