Nagpur: Amravati forest officials continue to go soft on culprits of monitor lizard case. Only one out of the nine accused has been arrested. While officials claimed the rest were missing, sources said they were very much in Amravati.
As reported by TOI earlier, Amravati forest division personnel had raided a farmhouse at Pimpalkhuta near Amravati on July 17 where meat of four monitor lizards was being served at a party. Only one accused MarotiWaghmare, chowkidar of the farmhouse, was arrested and granted Forest Custody Remand (FCR) till July 21.
Investigating officer and assistant conservator of forests (ACF) RajendraBonde informed that Waghmare had been granted Magisterial Custody Remand (MCR) till August 9 but rest of the accused were missing from their homes. "The search is on and we have also placed some sources near their home. On Friday morning, we searched some houses but did not find any clue," said Bonde. He added the department was also in touch with leading advocates of Amravati in case the accused approached them for anticipatory bail.
However TOI has learnt from reliable sources that all the accused were in Amravati and also in touch with an advocate based in Ambe Gate. "Forest officials are aware of this and are deliberately giving them time to seek anticipatory bail," sources alleged. Monitor lizards are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and have same level of protection as tigers. Their numbers are dwindling due to rampant poaching for medicine and meat.
