Read Time: 04 minutes

The Allahabad High Court recently imposed a bail condition to deposit Rs. 25,000 to UP Gosewa Ayog, Lucknow upon a man booked under Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1995 after being arrested allegedly possessing cow beef.

The bench of Justice Saurabh Lavania passed the order on the bail application moved by one Sonu Kasai. 

Sonu had file the bail plea alleging that the recovery from his possession was a planted one. His counsel submitted before the court that there was no independent witness to the said recovery to support the case of the prosecution. 

Sonu's counsel had pressed for the bail arguing that the FSL Report is awaited to date, which is required to prove that the alleged recovered meat is beef. On the basis of a single arrest, the applicant had been implicated in five cases, he had submitted.

He had further argued that the co-accused in the case have already been released on bail by the High Court and therefore, he should also be released on bail.

While praying the court to grant the relief, another submission was made by Sonu's counsel that the Sonu is an animal lover including the cow and its progeny and he often donates money to cow shelters (gaushalas). He suggested that Sonu would donate Rs. 25,000 to U.P. Gosewa Ayog within four weeks from the date of release from jail.

Taking note of the submissions made and the fact that FSL report is still awaited and there is no independent witness, Court granted bail to Sonu imposing the donation condition. 

"The applicant shall deposit a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only) in U.P. Gosewa Ayog, Lucknow' within four weeks from the date of his release from jail and, file receipt thereof in the trial Court; in case the accused applicant fails to deposit the amount this order, granting him bail, shall be treated to have been canceled and, he shall be taken into custody forthwith," the Court ordered.

Case Title: Sonu Kasai v. State of UP