Kala Rana Parmar, the owner of a mine, was arrested along with his four helpers, from the premises of the Goddess Sangitai temple on the outskirts of Chorwad town, on Friday.

According to the Chorwad police, they had sacrificed five goats to the goddess. When the police reached the premises, they found the carcasses the animal lying in a pool of blood, while one live goat was rescued.

Parmar and the others were booked under Sections 429 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code, and under various provisions of the Animal Cruelty (Prevention) Act and the Mumbai Animal Protection Act, 1954.

The police said Parmar had taken a vow to sacrifice goats in a bid to seek protection to his mining business from the effects of the global meltdown.

The five accused were produced before the judicial magistrate first class and later released on bail.