NEW DELHI: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has for the first time tracked the cases of cruelty against animals and compiled the data, noting registration of 9,039 cases and arrest of 10,312 persons in the country in 2024.Maharashtra recorded highest number (2,356) of such cases followed by Madhya Pradesh (1,346), Uttar Pradesh (1,121), Gujarat (526) and Tamil Nadu (457).The data tracks animal cruelty cases under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, ranging from FIR registration and investigation to filing of chargesheet and court disposal. It gives India its first national-level statistical picture of how animal cruelty offences are handled by the system.The report shows the police disposed of nearly 77% (6,969) of the total cases with 2,070 cases, approximately 23%, pending investigation at year-end in 2024.The bureau also separately records 8,660 cases of animal theft, valued at Rs 48.8 crore, with a recovery rate of nearly 45%, exceeding the national average for property crimes.“The formal recording of crimes under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by the NCRB is a significant step toward transparency and data driven governance. While many cases still go unreported, moving from anecdotes to hard data allows us to clearly see how the system is functioning,” said the animal welfare activist, Gauri Maulekhi.She told TOI that the dataset provides a valuable roadmap to examine the entire criminal justice chain, from police responsiveness to judicial resolution. “Overall, this is a major step in the right direction for our legal system and a strong foundation for future progress,” said Maulekhi.At the trial stage, the data reflects a high conviction rate of more than 80%, rising to nearly 94% in metropolitan areas, demonstrating that cases which reach conclusion are largely supported by evidence. At the same time, over 82% of cases remain pending for trial before courts, pointing to significant delays in judicial disposal.Calling the NCRB’s move a “historic step”, Shreemoyee Chakraborty from the People For Animals said, “This is a step in the right direction by the govt and marks an important shift in how animal cruelty is recognised within India’s criminal justice system.”