Rajasthan government is seeking Supreme Court intervention to cancel bail of alleged cow smuggler

The Rajasthan government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to Najim Khan, an accused in a bovine-related crime. Additional Solicitor General Shiv Mangal Sharma said the Supreme Court had granted bail to Najim Khan on October 21, 2024, citing lack of representation from the Rajasthan government.

The application filed on behalf of the state highlights that crucial facts about Khan’s criminal record were not presented to the court, leading to the bail decision. The filing states that Khan is a repeat offender with a criminal history: his record reportedly includes multiple cases under the Bovine Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, along with gang-related charges in Uttar Pradesh.

The government of Rajasthan says this criminal history qualifies him as a repeat offender and underlines the potential threat to public safety if he remains out on bail. “Given the alleged pattern of continued involvement in the cattle trade, the state is concerned that granting bail could facilitate further illegal activities, thus strong preventive measures are needed,” the government said in the filing. The case is related to an FIR registered in Karauli in February 2021. Nadoti police station in the district, where authorities intercepted a truck full of cattle (cows and bulls).

During a routine patrol, Rajasthan police officials stopped the vehicle on suspicion of illegal transportation of cattle for slaughter. The truck driver was taken into custody along with another passenger, while the third person Najim Khan reportedly escaped arrest. He was later arrested on April 30, 2024.