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Bombay High Court cancels bail of 67-year-old poacher who sold tiger items abroad

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The Bombay high court has cancelled the bail granted to a 67-year-old poacher who financed poaching operations, provided logistical support to poachers and then sold the poached items in international markets. The court observed that the crimes committed by him were serious.

Justice SB Shukre of the Nagpur bench of HC cancelled bail granted to Suraj Pal alias Chhacha, observing: "Crime alleged against the non-applicant (Pal) by all these parameters is very serious in nature. Prima facie, the non-applicant has shown proclivity to deal in body parts of tiger, the offence has transnational ramifications and above all has irreversible adverse impact on the larger public interests."

HC was hearing an application filed by the forest department seeking cancellation of bail granted to Pal by sessions judge at Nagpur in July. Pal was arrested by the department early this year under various sections of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, along with a few others.

Additional public prosecutor Kartik Shukul argued that Pal is a trader, who deals in purchase and selling of endangered wild animals including the critically endangered animal — the tiger. Also, Pal provides funds and logistical support required by poachers for killing precious wild animals and extracting their skins other body parts for the purpose of their trading in India and abroad. It is also alleged that Pal has links with international wild animal dealers and thus the offences registered against him and other accused persons have transnational ramifications.

The prosecution produced proof to the HC which showed that Pal financed operations for poaching of tigers in Maharashtra, including that of a tiger poached in Melghat forest situated in Amravati district. For the purpose, he paid Rs20 lakh to one Sarju, though one Naresh. The link between the poachers operating in the forest areas of Vidarbha region, the middle men like Naresh and Sarju and Pal, came to be revealed when Naresh and Sarju were arrested at Delhi on September 7, 2013.

During interrogation by Delhi police, they revealed Pal's name and the role played by him by providing necessary support for poaching and then buying the skins and body parts of tigers killed during the operation. Apart from Sarju and Naresh, even Pal had given confessional statements which showed that their crimes had transnational ramifications. Prosecution also informed the HC that Pal could tamper with evidence and threaten witnesses. Sarju had lodged a complaint with the police that Pal had threatened him.

While cancelling Pal's bail, the HC observed that the sessions judge had failed to look into the seriousness of the crime. "It appears that the learned additional sessions judge did not think it fit to consider other important parameters such as seriousness of crime, larger public interests involved, impact of crime on the society and so on," observed the HC. The judge also noted that tigers were an important part of the eco-system which needs to be preserved. Plus they boost tourism.

HC rejected the request by Pal's lawyer, RJ Mirza, to stay the order for two weeks to allow them to approach the Supreme Court.

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