In a major breakthrough in the Jinsi slaughterhouse case, the Jahangirabad Police on Friday arrested and operator Aslam Qureshi, alias ‘Aslam Chamra,’ and container driver Shoaib. Later, they were sent to jail. The action follows the official confirmation from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), which verified that the meat seized from the container was indeed beef. The investigation has now shifted its focus toward the potential complicity of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Veterinary Department. Senior police officials stated that municipal doctors and staff are under the scanner. According to standard operating procedures, no meat processing can occur within the facility without the mandatory inspection and certification by

 

BMC veterinary officers. The presence of prohibited meat suggests either a massive oversight or active collusion by departmental authorities. The state-of-the-art slaughterhouse at Jinsi had commenced operations just a month ago under the management of ‘Livestock Food Processors Private Limited.’ Following the discovery of the prohibited meat, the BMC administration has sealed the plant with immediate effect. Police suspect a larger supply chain network and are currently tracing other associates involved in the racket. This scandal has revived ghosts from the past for Aslam Qureshi. Three years ago, he was the primary contractor during a controversy involving the discovery of a large number of cattle carcasses near a cowshed on the city’s outskirts.

 

Having handled the city’s carcass disposal contracts for nearly 30 years, Qureshi’s operational methods have frequently drawn public and legal scrutiny. As per the contract between the BMC and the operating company, 24-hour CCTV surveillance of the premises is mandatory. The police are set to seize the digital video recorder (DVR) to examine the footage. The visuals will be crucial in determining exactly when the prohibited cattle were brought into the facility and identifying which officials and employees were present during the slaughter and loading process. The slaughterhouse was bound by strict guidelines from the MP Pollution Control Board, NGT, FSSAI, and APEDA. The contract stipulates heavy penalties and immediate termination of the agreement in the event of any legal violation or if the plant remains shut for more than 48 hours without prior authorisation. Authorities are now evaluating these legal grounds to permanently revoke the operator’s license.