MP duo held in Thane for possessing leopard skin worth `10L

Thane police’s crime branch Unit I has been successful in nabbing two persons who were about to sell leopard skin at Rabodi, Thane. The police seized the skin worth Rs 10 lakhs.

The crime branch’s assistant police inspector, Sandeep Bagul had received information on April 15, about the gang that was about to sell leopard skin. They along with the local police laid a trap at Saket Road where the duo were about to arrive.

As the two arrived the police intercepted and started searching their bag. They found dead skin of fully grown leopard, dried and thick, ready to sell. As the police interrogated them, they admitted to hailing from from Madhya Pradesh and had come to the city to sell the leopard skin. The wildlife crime control department inspected the skin and it was confirmed to be a leopard skin.

The accused are identified as Kismatlal Barkha Marabi(30) and Korcha Barat Marabi(25) who are workers by profession and are from Madhya Pradesh.

“The two had come here to sell leopard skin which was worth Rs 10 lakhs. We are yet to interrogate them about the buyer and from whom they had got the skin. Soon we will be able to nab others too involved in this,” assured Abhishek Trimukhe, DCP, (Crime) of Thane police.

The two have been booked under wildlife protection act 1972, sections 9,39,48 (A) ,49,51, in Rabodi police station. The police are looking out for people who were about to buy this costly skin in city and also will be looking out if the gang is operational in other states as well.