Tiger skin trader Chacha will not get back 50 lakh

The Times of India , Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Correspondent : Vijay Pinjarkar
Nagpur: International tiger skin and body parts trader Suraj Pal alias Chacha on Monday failed to get back the 50 lakh seized from his New Delhi residence during a raid on September 8, 2013.

Even as the CBI and forest department, jointly probing tiger poaching cases here, want custody of the 50 lakh as evidence, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), under the union ministry of finance, had attached the money in April this year as it was gained from the sale of tiger skins and body parts. As reported by TOI, at least 20-25 tigers are feared to have been poached in Vidarbha over 2012-13.

In September 2014, Chandadevi, wife of Suraj Pal, had moved a Delhi trial court demanding the 50 lakh back, claiming that the money was received from sale of a property. However, the trial court rejected her petition, following which Chandadevi had appealed before the sessions court in January 2015.

The CBI and state of Maharashtra through its special counsel KartikShukul had filed an application before the chief metropolitan magistrate, Tis Hazari Court, opposing the application filed by Chandadevi and seeking custody of the 50 lakh as case property in their cases. The CBI has said the cash is part of evidence in tiger poaching cases, which it is investigating.

"When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, additional sessions judge Raju Mehra relied on the ED report to dismiss the application filed by Chandadevi. The court also asked CBI to move the trial court for custody of 50 lakh," said A Pragatish, inspector with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).

SK Sharma, counsel for Chandadevi, sought time to appeal before a higher court. However, WCCB sources said special counsel for CBI Shukul opposed the move, saying that when the report has been submitted by none other than ED, there is no need to adjourn the matter on the ground that an appeal can be filed.

Sources said CBI feels that finger prints and serial numbers would help in locating two tiger skin traders, Sonam and Pasang, who had purchased the skins from Chacha and are now absconding. It also has to be ascertained whether the currency is fake or real, and from where they had sourced the cash.

Chacha may not have directly laid traps to kill tigers, but he and the poachers sail in the same boat, the courts have observed, as it was Chacha who financed the trade and sold tiger skins to neighbouring countries. When Chacha was arrested in Delhi, a cell phone was seized from him. Its call detail records (CDR) revealed calls to Nepal and China.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Tiger-skin-trader-Chacha-will-not-get-back-50-lakh/articleshow/48962556.cms
 


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