Those arrested include Dharmaraj Rajhans Pandhre, Ambagad Juna, Umesh Dhanraj Patle, Sakli, and Komal Deorao Dharmik, all from Tumsar, and Dilip Ramprasad Dhurve, Anil Prabhulal Uikey, and Sukhdeo Garibdas Markam, all from Katta and Sonu Shankar Khandate of Hiwra-Khanora near Ramtek.

Surekha (name changed), wife of Pendhri villager Radheshyam Wadhve, led forest officials to the accused. Wadhve was electrocuted after coming in contact with live electric wires, allegedly laid for wild animals, while returning home. However, Wadhve's body was dumped on the highway to show he died in a mishap.

All the accused are between 22 and 29 years and are habitual herbivore poachers. They have been remanded to forest custody till January 23 by judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Ramtek.

The three teams headed by deputy conservator of forest (DyCF) PK Mahajan, assistant conservator (ACF) SB Bhalavi and Deolapar RFO A R Sheikh after getting tip-offs left for Tumsar and Katta on Friday night and picked up the accused in the wee hours of Saturday. The three accused from Katta were already nabbed on Friday and gave vital clues.

"One of the culprits led us to Tumsar. Pandhre, one of the accused from Tumsar, was in possession of most of the tiger body parts. We seized eight nails, skull, jaw, four canines, other teeth, pelvic and rib bones, and one bone of the front leg from his house, besides, four swordsticks, a knife, a motorcycle and a mobile used to commit the crime," Mahajan told TOI.

"All those involved are not professional tiger poachers. They used to kill herbivores for meat. Had they been professionals, they would have disposed of the carcass immediately," he added.

The decomposed carcass of a full-grown tiger was found by the patrolling staff around 3pm on January 17 in Hirankund nullah in the buffer of Pench tiger reserve. After post-mortem and circumstantial evidence, it was proved that the tiger was electrocuted and vital body parts were removed. The poaching raised many eyebrows on poor protection. The carcass lay at the spot for over 15 days and field staff did not even know about it. An irked chief conservator of forests (CCF) S H Patil suspended forest guard B S Atkar and permanent van majoor R D Uikey.

Stunned by the suspensions, officials swung into action on Friday and rounded up three suspects from Katta, 3-4 km from Harnakund where the carcass was found. During interrogation, key accused Dhurve confessed he laid a live wire trap in the evening to kill a wild boar near Hirnakund some 15-20 days ago.

"In the morning when I reached the spot, I was shocked to see a tiger lying dead. Sukhdeo and I dumped the carcass into the Hirnakund nullah to destroy evidence. For 3-4 days we kept quiet but our friend Sonu also came to know about it. He contacted his friends in Tumsar to help get prospective buyers for the tiger's body parts," Dhurve told investigating officer Sheikh.

However, as the carcass started stinking, the accused removed the body parts. "We have seized 90 per cent of the parts. Remaining organs and six nails will be confiscated soon," said Mahajan.

"All the accused have been booked under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The MSEDCL officials should now book them under the Electricity Act too," demanded honorary district wildlife warden Kundan Hate, who was part of the forest team.