FIR Against Nandamuri Balakrishna Fans for Goat Sacrifice at ‘Daaku Maharaj’ Release: PETA India Reacts

FIR Against Nandamuri Balakrishna: PETA India, upon learning that a bunch of goons had sacrificed a goat out of superstition to cast a luck spell to benefit actor Nandamuri Balakrishna's film, Daaku Maharaaj, collaborated with senior cops of Tirupati district to register an FIR. A goat was killed outside Pratap theatre, Tata Nagar, Tirupati. The act of animal cruelty was filmed amply showing a herd of men surrounding the frightened goat. Just minutes into the video, we see a machete being used to behead the goat while it's fully conscious and amidst an audience in full view. One of the individuals can also be seen smearing the blood of the sacrificed goat on the movie poster.

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In the FIR, five identified persons have been accused under sections 325 & 270, read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; sections 4 & 5 read with 6 & 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Animals and Birds Sacrifices (Prohibition) Act, 1950; and sections 3, 11(1)(a), and 11(1)(l) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

In its complaint, PETA India stated that Section 4 of the Andhra Pradesh Animals and Birds Sacrifices (Prohibition) Act of 1950 prohibits anyone from performing, serving, assisting, or participating in the sacrificial act of any animal at any congregation. Section 5 prohibits the use of the precincts of public religious worship or adoration for sacrificing clean animals by any person in possession of such a precinct. Sections 6 prescribes penalties, while Section 8 makes all offences under the Act cognizable.

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Animals are to be slaughtered only in licensed slaughterhouses as per the orders of the Honourable Supreme Court and that municipal authorities ensure compliance with this ruling. Animals may only be slaughtered in licensed slaughterhouses with appropriate species-specific stunning systems, as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka have made it illegal to perform any religious sacrifice in any public religious worship area, be it in such place of worship, public procession, or assembly related to the aforementioned public street religious worship. Gujarat, Kerala, Puducherry, and Rajasthan also have made laws prohibiting the religious sacrifice of any animal in any temple or its precinct.

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