Police in Tirupati registered a First Information Report (FIR) against five persons said to be fans of popular Tollywood actor Balakrishna for beheading a goat for the success of his recently released movie Daaku Maharaj.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said it worked with the Tirupati police to get the FIR registered under sections 325 (mischief by killing or maiming of animal) and 270 (public nuisance) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; sections 4 and 5 (animal sacrifice) read with 6 and 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Animals and Birds Sacrifices (Prohibition) Act, 1950; and sections 3, 11(1)(a) (subjecting an animal to unnecessary pain or suffering) and 11(1)(l) (killing an animal) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
The goat was killed outside Pratap movie theatre, Tata Nagar, Tirupati on January 12, the day when Balakrishna’s latest film Daaku Maharaj was released.
The video of the incident was widely shared on social media. The FIR was registered after the offence was reported by a head constable of Tirupati East Police Station on the evening of January 16.
According to PETA India, the video shows men surrounding a frightened goat. The video then shows the goat, fully conscious, being beheaded with a machete and the slaughter taking place in full public view. It also shows a man smearing the blood of the sacrificed goat on the movie poster.
PETA India condemned the incident. “Killing an animal and smearing their blood on a poster doesn’t make you a super fan – it makes you a villain and a criminal. True fans celebrate their favourite stars with movie tickets and supportive social media posts, not with acts of violence or cruelty,” said PETA India Cruelty Response Coordinator Saloni Sakaria.
In its complaint, PETA India pointed out that Section 4 of the Andhra Pradesh Animals and Birds Sacrifices (Prohibition) Act, 1950 prohibits any person from officiating, performing, serving, assisting, or participating in sacrificing an animal in any congregation. Section 5 prohibits the use of a place of public religious worship or adoration or its precincts for sacrificing animals by any person in possession of such precinct. Section 6 prescribes the penalties, and Section 8 makes all offences under the Act cognizable.
