A meat consignment seized in Jalna, Maharashtra, under suspicion of being beef was confirmed to be buffalo meat, leading to its release and highlighting the importance of accurate testing in animal product regulation.
Meat worth Rs 4.34 crore seized from three trucks in Jalna on suspicion that it was beef has been confirmed as buffalo meat after analysis by a laboratory in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a police official said on Friday.
Following this, the consignment comprising 83,988 kilograms of frozen meat was released along with the three trucks, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Anant Kulkarni said.
"The meat was seized on April 1 on a tip off from right-wing activists and a case was registered at Chandanzira police station under Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act. Three persons, identified as Varanasi residents Shambuprasad Prajapati, Sattyaprakash Gupta, and Virenda Gupta, were held at the time," another official said.
As per police, the trucks were transporting the meat from Parbhani to Mumbai for export. Packets in the consignment had markings in Arabic, indicating it was likely intended for export to Arab nations.
"We had requested an early report from the laboratory to ensure the meat does not deteriorate. The transporter had valid documents. After verification, the containers were released within 24 hours of receiving the report," SDPO Kulkarni said.
Further action in the case will be taken accordingly, the official added.