20-year-old arrested for carrying leopard skin valued at ₹2.5 lakh
THANE: A 20-year-old student of a Mumbai college was arrested for recently carrying the skin of a fully grown leopard.
The skin has been valued at Rs2.5 lakh.
According to the Thane antinarcotics cell, the man, Deepen Khetalpar, a second-year bachelor of arts (BA) student, has claimed he was asked to deliver the skin to someone by a friend, and promised Rs15,000 for the job.
The Thane anti-narcotics cell had received information about a person coming to a state transport (ST) depot in Thane (West) to deliver a tiger skin.
“We stationed our officials in civil dress at the depot. Around 4.30pm, we spotted the accused carrying a school bag. On checking the bag, we found the skin
of a leopard, worth Rs2.5 lakh in the market,” said Mandar Dharmadhikari, senior inspector, anti-narcotics cell, Thane.
Dharmadhikari added, “We also took the help of Thane forest officials, who checked if the skin was real and further estimated the cost. When we interrogated the accused, he claimed he was asked to deliver the skin in Thane by his friend, and was promised Rs15,000 for it.”
After reaching Thane, he was supposed to contact his
friend, who would then ask the other party to reach the spot Dharmadhikari said.
The ‘friend’ is yet to be arrested.
“We are now searching for the friend of the accused, who is a resident of Mumbai. We are also looking for the party to whom the skin was to be delivered,” said Dharmadhikari.
The Thane Nagar police have registered a case under the rel evant sections of the Wild Life Protection Act.