The Bombay High Court has rejected the pre-arrest bail application of a man accused of transporting 1,065 kg of beef to Ahmedabad, observing that the investigation is at a nascent stage and custodial interrogation is necessary to “uncover all aspects of the facts.”

Justice RN Laddha dismissed the plea filed by Yamin Yasin Qureshi, who is booked under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1995, and the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act, 1949.

On July 29, 2024, at around 4:30 a.m., police received confidential information about a tempo allegedly transporting beef from Sangamner to Ahmedabad via the Mumbai highway. When the informant attempted to stop the vehicle, it fled, prompting intervention by Kashimira Police Station officers, who detained the accused. The vehicle was weighed at a computerized weighbridge, confirming the transport of 1,065 kg of beef.

Advocate Rohit Vaishya, representing Qureshi, argued that his client was falsely implicated and claimed that the allegations were “ex-facie spurious and without a bona fide foundation.” 

However, State’s advocate Yogesh Dabke opposed the plea, citing Qureshi’s three prior criminal antecedents of a similar nature. Dabke contended that granting pre-arrest bail at this stage would hinder the investigation.

The court agreed with the prosecution, finding sufficient material to establish Qureshi’s involvement in the crime. Justice Laddha emphasized the importance of custodial interrogation in the case, stating: “The applicant has three criminal antecedents of a similar nature. In the facts of the present case, custodial interrogation of the applicant would be necessary to uncover all aspects of the facts. In the totality of the circumstances, this Court is not persuaded by the applicant’s claim of non-involvement in the alleged crime.”

The court further observed that releasing Qureshi on pre-arrest bail would “jeopardise the course of an effective investigation.” Citing the early stage of the probe and the applicant’s criminal history, Justice Laddha declined to exercise discretion in Qureshi’s favor.

Accordingly, the pre-arrest bail application was rejected.