Allahabad High Court Flags ‘Movie Script’ FIR in Cow Slaughter Case, Seeks SP’s Personal Affidavit

The Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, recently questioned the credibility of an FIR in a cow slaughter case, observing that it read more like a “movie script” than a genuine criminal complaint, and sought a personal affidavit from the Superintendent of Police, Bahraich.

Court was dealing with a writ petition filed by one Akbar Ali the FIR dated January 22, 2026, registered at Police Station Jarwal Road, District Bahraich. The FIR was registered under Sections 325 and 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, (corresponding to Section 428/ 429 and Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, respectively), Sections 25, 4, and 4 of the Arms Act, and Sections 3, 5, and 8 of the U.P. Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955.

As per the FIR, it was lodged at 14:24 hours on January 22, 2026, alleging that the incident occurred earlier the same day at 10:45 hours. The prosecution story stated that a secret informer tipped off the police about alleged slaughter of cow progeny and the accused attempting to dispose of the meat. Upon reaching the spot, the police allegedly heard voices saying “Ujala hone wala hai” — that dawn was about to break.

The FIR further claimed that the police surrounded the accused and warned them to surrender, to which the accused allegedly responded by exhorting each other to shoot the police personnel. The police allegedly opened fire, one of the accused reportedly shouted that he had been shot, three persons were apprehended, and one fled the scene. The arrested individuals purportedly named the petitioner as being involved in the offence.

However, the division bench of Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Pramod Kumar Srivastava found a glaring inconsistency in the prosecution’s narrative. Court noted that if the incident took place at 10:45 a.m., it was inexplicable how the accused could be heard saying that dawn was about to break. This “blatant incongruity,” court observed, reflected a patent abuse of law and rendered the FIR susceptible to being quashed.

The bench also remarked that the language used in the FIR appeared cinematic, including phrases akin to popular movie dialogues, such as police asking the accused to surrender and the accused dramatically shouting upon being shot. The court was referring to statements "Tum log police se ghir chuke ho, Aatm Samarpan kar do" and the accused persons yelling out "Hai goli lag gai" etc.

Court said that such fanciful and exaggerated drafting did not reflect ground realities and seemed heavily borrowed from film scripts.

Observing that courts must step in to curb such practices, the bench referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment in State of Haryana vs. Bhajan Lal, which lays down circumstances in which high courts may exercise powers under Article 226 to prevent abuse of process.

Finding the allegations in the present case to be prima facie fanciful and inherently improbable, the high court directed the Superintendent of Police, Bahraich, to file a personal affidavit within two weeks explaining the inconsistencies apparent on the face of the FIR.

The matter has been listed for March 16, 2026. Court has further directed that if the personal affidavit is not filed, the Superintendent of Police shall appear in person along with the record on the next date of hearing.

Till then, court has ordered that no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner pursuant to the impugned FIR.

Case Title: Akbar Ali vs. State Of U.P. Thru. Secy. Home Deptt. Lko. And Others

Order Date: February 16, 2026

Bench: Justices Abdul Moin and Pramod Kumar Srivastava