Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday warned that the government will impose the stringent MCOCA on those indulging in cow smuggling and slaughter in Maharashtra. “The government has already imposed ban on cow slaughter. Anybody found indulging in cow smuggling or slaughter will invite the harshest punishment including MCOCA,” Fadnavis told the state Assembly. The chief minister’s response came following questions raised by members of the ruling parties who pointed out that despite ban on beef and cow slaughter, cow smuggling continues in the state. The issue was raised in the Assembly by NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap who demanded stricter monitoring on cow smuggling. He sought a reply from the chief minister as to what measures the state government has taken to curb such incidents. In response, the CM said, “The government is going to closely monitor cow smuggling cases and take strict action against all those engaging in such crimes.” Earlier, through a calling-attention motion, MLA Jagtap pointed out the case of Atiq Qureshi, a repeat offender in cow trafficking. Minister of State for Home (Rural) Pankaj Bhoyar told the Assembly that Qureshi has 20 cases of cow smuggling registered against him in Ahilyanagar district. He was arrested on January 20 but released on bail on March 1. Fadnavis, who also holds Home portfolio, intervened and said that police would be instructed to evoke MCOCA charges against habitual offenders like Qureshi. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, is a special law enacted to combat organised crime, mafia activities, and underworld operations in Maharashtra. MCOCA is invoked only in cases when a group repeatedly engages in crimes like extortion, murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, or illegal businesses for financial gain.
