Police have arrested three persons who had come searching for a customer in PimpriPendhar village, situated about 100 kms from Pune, in Junnar taluka.

Senior police inspector Ram Jadhav, in charge of the LCB, had received information about three persons approaching the village, in the area that falls under Otur police station's jurisdiction. Accordingly, a trap was laid by the LCB team and three persons were detained on Sunday afternoon.

Police officials said that they have recovered the skin, nails and other body parts of an adult leopard, that are totally worth Rs 1.3 lakh or more.

The arrested accused have been identified as BaluGavabaMadhe (25), SomnathSukhdevMadhe (28), both residents of Pimpaldare Chas from the Akole taluka of Ahmednagar district and SuryakantShantaram (32), a resident of Masvandi from Sangamner taluka of Ahmednagar district.

The arrested persons have been charged for offences under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC).