The suspects were produced in the local court that remanded them in forest-custody for a day. The alleged instance of poaching happened on November 12; however, the case was exposed a month later when two of the foresters involved in the case, started fighting in public.

The barking deer, locally known as Bhekar, is a schedule III class protected animal and poaching is violation of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The TOI first reported the incident on December 30, after which, the forest department initiated action against the suspects involved in the incident.

Forest department has identified the arrested persons as KaitanD'souza, 53, Manvel Fernandis, 51, TelesFernandis, 65, Francis Pinto, 50, Anton D'souza, 55, Napoleon Fernandis, 38, Jose DeMelo, 54, James Perera, 40, all residents of Bachani in Kagaltalukaa and DhondiramRane, 32, a resident of Farale in Radhanagari.

The department suspended foresters Y P Gavit and S G Aga with immediate effect and has asked assistant conservator of forest S M Deshpande to go on leave till further notice, said forest officials.

S L Zure, divisional forest officer (wildlife), told TOI that prima facie it appears that the department officers had accepted money for releasing the alleged poachers from forest jurisdiction, where they were found with a firearm.

Zure, who is investigating the case, said the firearm belongs to Rane, while the eight others had entered into forest illegally. "The suspects have confirmed they fired two shots; however, they claimed that they did not poach any animal. We are still probing the case and the evidence will be produced before local court," he added.

The suspects have been booked under various sections of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 under charges of hunting, illegal entry in sanctuary, destruction in a sanctuary, causing fire and entry into sanctuary with weapon. They can be sent to jail for a minimum of three years and face a penalty of Rs 25,000.