CHANDIGARH: Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, already weathering a storm over charges of hunting an endangered animals, was in deeper trouble on Tuesday with Haryana Wildlife Department recovering 12 "disputed trophies" at his residence while the state High Court turned down his bail application. The wildlife officials made the seizures from Ibrahim Palace of Pataudi. "There were at least 45 trophies of animals at his residence, of which 12 were not certified," K L Manhas, chief conservator of forest (wildlife) said. Manhas said that most of the trophies belonged to Pataudi’s ancestors, dating back to the 1950s. "We will conduct forensic verification on the skins of disputed items, but it would happen only later. We are still busy preparing reports on the black buck case," Manhas added. In 2003, the wildlife department had asked the people of Haryana to declare the possession of wild animal trophies. At the time, Pataudi had declared that he possessed hides of four wild animals. Villagers in and around village Kilrod said Pataudi has been a habitual hunter. Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday declined to issue an interim order to stay Pataudi’s arrest in the Jhajjar poaching case. Instead, it has issued notice to the Haryana government for June 17 to respond to the plea of the accused and also summoned the record relating to the investigation of the case so far.

This was ordered by vacation judge Justice Rajive Bhalla after about an hour long arguments on Pataudi's plea for grant of anticipatory bail in the case registered under the Protection of Wildlife Act, 1972 against him and seven others at police station Jhajjar on June 5 for allegedly killing a black buck and two rabbits.

The counsel for Pataudi as also his co-accused Shashi Singh argued the case along anticipated lines and denied any role of the petitioner in the poaching incident.

He also contested the competence of the police to undertake an investigation of the case saying it did not lie in their jurisdiction as per the provisions of the Act.

Summing up, the counsel for Pataudi said no case as a matter of fact had been made out against his client.

Pataudi's pre-arrest bail plea was opposed tooth and nail by the counsel for the Rohtak-based Naresh Kadian, an activist of People for Animals, who was personally present in court.

Kadian is also among those against whom a case has been registered by the Jhajjar police for allegedly stealing government property.

He had taken away the carcass of the killed black buck to Delhi Zoo for post-mortem to substantiate his charge that the animal had been killed as a result of hunting.

His plea to be impleaded as party was allowed. All India Bishnoi Mahasabha which opposed grant of bail to Pataudi too has sought being made a party too.

The High Court is now likely to pass an order, interim or otherwise, on the prayer of Pataudi and Shashi Singh on Friday only after examining the record of the investigation of the poaching case and also after the response of the state government is received in line with the notice issued on Tuesday.

The Haryana government has been asked to file its reply if possible in the form of an affidavit.