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Maharashtra to bring law to stop beef smuggling: Minister

Plans to withdraw cases against gau rakshaks

The Agra Police later said the driver was transporting the bones of animals auctioned by Bharatpur Municipal Corporation.

The Maharashtra government will bring a new law against the smuggling of beef in the state and withdraw the cases against “gau rakshaks” who have been “taking the lead” in exposing the transport of beef in the state, Minister of State, Home (Rural) Pankaj Bhoyar, said in the legislative council on Monday.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Shrikant Bharatiya raised Calling Attention Motion in the legislative council in a case of seizure of 57,000 kilograms of beef in two containers at Lonavala in March 2025, while they were being transported to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) for import. He said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be appointed as the company involved in the case belongs to Hyderabad.

“There is need to bring a special law in the winter session to stop beef smuggling. The Maharashtra government has brought a law to tackle the specific issue of ‘urban Naxals’. I want to request, instead of existing schemes and laws, can an independent act be brought to tackle the issue of beef smuggling,” asked Bharatiya, adding whether the Maharashtra Control of Organsied Crime Act (MCOCA) can be invoked against beef smugglers. He also sought action against illegal cow slaughter houses in the state.

“It is a serious issue. We will invoke MCOCA if the repeat offenders are found. We are also soon bringing an act against the beef smuggling,” said Bhoyar. He said that the government will set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident at Lonavala.

“We will reach to the root of it and even the local police will also be probed to check whether they are involved,” he said, adding that the government will not tolerate smuggling of beef.

Bharatiya said that activists who work to prevent such cases (of beef smuggling) face problems and even cases at some times. “Such gau rakshaks should not face injustice. There should be inquiry as to why cases are slapped against them,” he said.

Bhoyar said, “If cases have been filed against the gau rakshaks who do social work of this sort, those will be studied, and action will be initiated to withdraw those cases.”

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Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab said, “If the police are seizing 57 tonnes of beef, it throws light on the magnitude of this illegal activity in the state. It needs to be probed whether the police authorities are also involved in the racket.”

The minister informed that the state has banned cow slaughter, sale and transport of beef under Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995. From June 2022 to 2025, the state has registered 2,849 cases and arrested 4,678 accused. “The total beef seized is around 1724 tonnes,” said the minister.

Alok Deshpande

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More

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