Karnataka HC pulls up police over cow case, questions focus on serious crimes
Justice M Nagaprasanna criticises police priorities, stays probe into case filed over two missing cows, calls it an abuse of legal process
The Karnataka High Court on Monday (April 27) pulled up the State police for focusing on trivial matters instead of pursuing serious criminal cases. The High Court chided the State police for registering a criminal case against a family over two cows going missing in 2024.
HC questions priorities of police action
The remarks were made by Justice M Nagaprasanna during the hearing of the family’s plea to quash the criminal case against them. The judge expressed displeasure over the fact that the police registered a criminal case over such an incident.
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He further stated that the police did not show such swiftness in registering cases when it comes to serious offences.
“You leave the cows' investigation. Go behind the real crimes. Why did you register this crime? On the allegation that two years back, two cows were missing, you registered the crime,” Justice Nagaprasanna told the State government’s counsel as quoted by the Bar and Bench.
Remarks on delay in serious cases
"Real crimes, you don’t register. They (complainants) have to knock on the police station's door 100 times to register a real crime. Two cows were missing two years ago, and a crime was registered,” he added.
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Terming the registering of a criminal case over two cows going missing as an abuse of law, the High Court issued a stay on the police investigation.
"In 2024, two cows go missing. The entire family is roped into the web of crime registered in the year 2026 because the cows were not traced. If this would be permitted, this would become an abuse of the process of law on the face of it. Therefore, there shall be an interim order of stay of further investigation," the judge said.
Earlier criticism over policing focus
The remarks came days after the High Court said the state police appeared more focused on probing live-in relationships than tackling actual crime. The observation was made during a hearing on Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh’s plea to quash a criminal case filed over his mimicry of Chamundi Daiva’s depiction in Kantara.
During the proceedings, the state government’s counsel told the court that the Karnataka Police could ensure Singh’s safety if he visited the Chamundi temple to repent for his comments.
"So powerful that they go behind live-in relationships, they go behind couples. Real crime is not being investigated only. Only (Section) 69 (BNS) (cases are being taken by them),” the judge said.