JUDGMENT

ABHAY S. OKA, J.

1. Leave granted.

FACTUAL ASPECTS

2. Heard the learned senior counsel appearing for the appellant.

3. The appellant, who is claiming to be Honorary Animal Welfare Officer complained to the fifth respondent-Dr. Omkar Patil, Assistant Director of the Veterinary Department about illegal storage of a large quantity of meat of cow in a godown of the first to third respondents.

4. Initially, while registering the First Information Report, the offences punishable under Sections 420 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘the IPC’) were applied and later on, the provisions of the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964 (for short ‘the 1964 Act’) and, in particular, Sections 4 and 5 thereof were added. The High Court in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short ‘the CrPC’) has quashed the First Information Report.

5. The learned senior counsel appearing for the appellant submitted that this was a case where huge quantity of meat of cow was found in the custody of the first to third respondents. He pointed out that even before the investigation could proceed, that the High Court has i