Nagpur: A special CBI court headed by additional sessions judge TS Akali has rejected the bail plea of notorious tiger poacher Chika alias Krishna Patlepawar in a case of poaching tigers in Vidarbha.
Two weeks ago, Chika (23), a resident of Sagoni in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh, had challenged rejection of his bail application by the chief judicial magistrate (CJM). Chika and others are facing trial in an offence registered on June 6, 2013, against hunting tigers at Masondi in May 2013 in East Melghat of Amravati district, and also trading body parts of tigers.
During investigations, forest officials had filed seven complaints under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for various offences related to tiger hunting in Masondi. Over 21 accused were apprehended and prosecuted under these complaints.
Subsequently, the trial of the case was transferred to the CJM. The investigation of Chika's case was transferred to CBI, special court, Mumbai, on the request of the state government.
During investigations, it was revealed that Chika had not only killed tigers near a water source in Melghat but also one sloth bear in the same steel trap. The accused skinned the tiger and separated the bones. The poachers partially dried the skin and other body parts, and transported them to Gorkheda, where they had a makeshift camp. Thereafter, the tiger body parts were transported to Amdi Fata near Ramtek and sold for Rs3.5 lakh to Delhi-based trader Sarju Bagdi, who is also now lodged in Central Jail.
The proceeds from the illegal trade were shared by Chika and other accused. Hence, while strongly opposing the bail application, special counsel for CBI and forest department Kartik Shukul argued that the applicant committed an offence by way of criminal conspiracy with other co-accused by forming an unlawful assembly and committed an offence of hunting and also has illegally held contraband tiger skin, bones, nails and teeth, and traded the same by illegal means.
Shukul pleaded the accused-applicant is a hardened criminal and there is sufficient evidence on record to show that the present accused is guilty of illegal wildlife hunting and trade. The aforesaid grounds by itself are enough for rejection of the present application filed by the accused, he said.
Shukul also pointed out that earlier the court has rejected application of Chika under Section 7A of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, whereby he had claimed that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence and, therefore, should not be tried as an adult.
Chika had produced birth certificates to claim that he was a juvenile, and must therefore be treated as per the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. However, the issuing authority was called before the court and during cross-examination, the issuing authority admitted that the birth certificates of Chika were invalid.
This is an established modus of poachers and there is every possibility that even if original Aadhaar cards are produced, the same may be invalid and illegal. Considering all the facts, the CBI court rejected the bail application of Chika.
Two weeks ago, Chika (23), a resident of Sagoni in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh, had challenged rejection of his bail application by the chief judicial magistrate (CJM). Chika and others are facing trial in an offence registered on June 6, 2013, against hunting tigers at Masondi in May 2013 in East Melghat of Amravati district, and also trading body parts of tigers.
During investigations, forest officials had filed seven complaints under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for various offences related to tiger hunting in Masondi. Over 21 accused were apprehended and prosecuted under these complaints.
Subsequently, the trial of the case was transferred to the CJM. The investigation of Chika's case was transferred to CBI, special court, Mumbai, on the request of the state government.
During investigations, it was revealed that Chika had not only killed tigers near a water source in Melghat but also one sloth bear in the same steel trap. The accused skinned the tiger and separated the bones. The poachers partially dried the skin and other body parts, and transported them to Gorkheda, where they had a makeshift camp. Thereafter, the tiger body parts were transported to Amdi Fata near Ramtek and sold for Rs3.5 lakh to Delhi-based trader Sarju Bagdi, who is also now lodged in Central Jail.
The proceeds from the illegal trade were shared by Chika and other accused. Hence, while strongly opposing the bail application, special counsel for CBI and forest department Kartik Shukul argued that the applicant committed an offence by way of criminal conspiracy with other co-accused by forming an unlawful assembly and committed an offence of hunting and also has illegally held contraband tiger skin, bones, nails and teeth, and traded the same by illegal means.
Shukul pleaded the accused-applicant is a hardened criminal and there is sufficient evidence on record to show that the present accused is guilty of illegal wildlife hunting and trade. The aforesaid grounds by itself are enough for rejection of the present application filed by the accused, he said.
Shukul also pointed out that earlier the court has rejected application of Chika under Section 7A of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, whereby he had claimed that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence and, therefore, should not be tried as an adult.
Chika had produced birth certificates to claim that he was a juvenile, and must therefore be treated as per the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. However, the issuing authority was called before the court and during cross-examination, the issuing authority admitted that the birth certificates of Chika were invalid.
This is an established modus of poachers and there is every possibility that even if original Aadhaar cards are produced, the same may be invalid and illegal. Considering all the facts, the CBI court rejected the bail application of Chika.
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