NAGPUR: A leopard poached in Gorewada forest has come to haunt the forest department after 15 years! The wildlife wing has decided to reopen the case after ignoring it since 1999.

In 1999, the forest department had arrested three persons for poaching a leopard inside Gorewada. Acting on a tip-off, three persons GhanshyamPotbale, Janglu Mane and Anil Brijlal, all residents of Gorewada village, were arrested by officials on January 14, 1999.

The officials had seized a leopard skin, nails, wire snares and weapons used to kill herbivores, a live bater bird (quail) and other material during a raid at the house of main accused Potbale. The accused were produced before judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) in court number 6. Incidentally, the same court of JMFC AY Borkar is currently hearing the series of tiger poaching cases.

However, even after 15 years, the case has not reached its logical end. All the accused are roaming freely on bail, thanks to the forest department which did not pursue the matter. Neither the defence nor prosecution attended the matter. Recently, the court pointed out the case to forest officials who have now decided to fight it out.

Additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) for wildlife (east) SS Mishra said, "There were no takers from the prosecution side and accused got bail. It is good that the court has pointed out the matter to us. We will fight it out now."

On Friday, before the bail application of notorious international tiger skin and body parts trader Suraj Pal alias Chacha was being heard before JMFC Borkar, the 15-year-old leopard case also came up.

The leopard case could come out due to court's alertness.