DRI had conducted the 17-hour long raid at the Civil Lines residence of the retired Colonel Devendra Kumar in connection with a disproportionate asset (DA) case
Horns, skins, and other body parts of endangered species and about 117 kilograms of their meat were allegedly seized during a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) raid at the residence of a retired Army Colonel in Civil Lines area of Uttar Pradesh' Meerut on Saturday late night.
DRI had conducted the 17-hour long raid at the Civil Lines residence of the retired Colonel Devendra Kumar in connection with a disproportionate asset (DA) case.
During the search operation, they found hides, two horns of blackbuck, heads, nails and other body parts of leopard, swamp deer and spotted deer from a godown in the cellar camouflaged as plywood storeroom.
The 117 kgs of meat was stored in 45 packets and stored in a freezer.
"We recovered as many as 45 packets weighing about 117 kgs of meat suspected to be of endangered animals. Samples of meat have been sent to the lab for testing to ascertain category of wild animals," Chief Wildlife Conservator Mukesh Kumar told mediapersons.
During the raid, the DRI also recovered Rs 1 crore in cash and about 40 arms, including nine pistols and 12 rifles, and a huge cache of ammunition from the residence of the retired Colonel.
DRI Officials said that they suspect that the Retired Colonel and son Prashant Bishnoi, a national level skeet shooter, were running an illegal wildlife smuggling racket. They were killings animals and selling their meat, hides and other parts to Indiana as well as overseas clients, the officials added. Turn to P4
DRI recovers huge wildlife cache from retired Army Colonel residence in UP
"We are investigating the material seized in the raid. We will come to a definite conclusion only after further interrogation of the arrested is completed," said Manoj Kumar, Senior Intelligence officer, DRI.
"We have registered a case under Wildlife Protection Act against the accused," said Kumar.
According to a press release issued by the DRI, firearms of various make and models--Glock (Austria), Italy-made Beretta, Arsenal, Benelle and Blaser (Germany) -- were seized along with expensive cameras, thermal imaging binoculars and cartridges.
The DRI has also registered a case under the Arms Act and Prevention of Corruption Act.
"One of the suspects is believed to have recently killed a leopard near Jim Corbett area and processed the skin at his residence," the DRI said in its statement.
"We are investigating the material seized in the raid. We will come to a definite conclusion only after further interrogation of the arrested is completed," said Manoj Kumar, Senior Intelligence officer, DRI.
"We have registered a case under Wildlife Protection Act against the accused," said Kumar.
According to a press release issued by the DRI, firearms of various make and models--Glock (Austria), Italy-made Beretta, Arsenal, Benelle and Blaser (Germany) -- were seized along with expensive cameras, thermal imaging binoculars and cartridges.
The DRI has also registered a case under the Arms Act and Prevention of Corruption Act.
"One of the suspects is believed to have recently killed a leopard near Jim Corbett area and processed the skin at his residence," the DRI said in its statement.
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"We recovered as many as 45 packets weighing about 117 kgs of meat suspected to be of endangered animals. Samples of meat have been sent to the lab for testing to ascertain category of wild animals," Chief Wildlife Conservator Mukesh Kumar told mediapersons.
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