Officials seized several kilos of sea cucumbers from the hotel kitchen and sent some to the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata for forensic tests.
The government might be trying to protect endangered animals but a five-star hotel in the capital was recently raided for illegally selling sea cucumbers (black fish), a schedule-I animal. This is the first time that a five-star hotel has been caught selling an endangered species.
What really surprised investigators was the animal had been listed in the menu and the hotel was regularly getting supplies for clients. A source in the environment and forest ministry said the raid was conducted at the restaurant of Hotel Taj Mansingh, located in the heart of the capital.
“We had received a complaint. So we posed as customers, went to the restaurant and ordered a dish. Within minutes, the order was served on the table. After the sea cucumbers were put on our table, we started raiding the kitchen and the restaurant,” the source said.
The officials seized several kilos of sea cucumbers from the hotel kitchen and sent some to the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata for forensic tests. They confirmed our worst fears — that the hotel was indeed selling the protected animal. “We got the supplier’s address from the hotel and raided the premises. There we found several kilograms of sea cucumbers,” the source said.
The wildlife crime control bureau (WCCB) has registered cases against six people, including five senior management members of Taj Mansingh and the owner of the company that was supplying sea cucumbers to the hotel.
“We arrested the restaurant manager and the owner of the company supplying the animal. Though the duo has managed to get bail, they have surrendered their passports and can’t leave the country,” said the officer.
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