Murder of constable and leopard skin seizure - main accused acquitted

In April 2016 during a raid in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, a constable of Special Task Force of police was shot dead by illegal wildlife traders and police managed to seize a leopard skin and deer antlers. A case has registered against four persons, during the trial 3 accused were used the option of plea bargaining and court sentenced them to 1 year and 8 months imprisonment. Trial against main accused was concluded and Sessions Court had acquitted him.

Three people convicted and sentenced to 5 years in leopard skins smuggling

In June 2001, Uttarakhand forest department had seized 6 leopard skins at Haridwar district and a case was registered against 5 persons. During the search of home at one of the accused, leg of barking deer, sambar antlers, porcupine quills and horns of Himalayan Tahr were also recovered. After the trial a court in Haridwar was convicted three persons and sentenced them to 5 years rigorous imprisonment and ₹15,000 fine each. The other two were acquitted.

Nepali citizen convicted in leopard skin seized case

In January this year SoG of Uttarakhand police arrested a Nepali national with a leopard skin in Pithoragarh distict, after the fast trial CJM court had convicted the accused and sentenced him to four years rigorous imprisonment and ₹10,000 fine.

Leopard skins seizure: Appeal filed by convict rejected

An appeal filed by the convict against the sentencing of three years imprisonment and ₹10,000 fine was rejected by Sessions Court in Panchkula, Haryana. The case was pertains to the seizure of 4 leopard skins by CBI in June 2016.

Seizure of 8 leopard skins, accused acquitted in Delhi

In February 2009 Crime Branch of Delhi police seized 5 leopard skins in Delhi and arrested two persons. On further investigations with wildlife officials, 3 more leopard skins and traps were seized from Himachal Pradesh. After the trial a court in Delhi had acquitted both the accused.

In one of the observation court noted that “More so, as per Manual on Wildlife Species in Trade, 1^st Edition prepared by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India, there are procedural guidelines for identifying the wildlife species. Its Preface specifically provides that the agencies may note that similar and mere resemblance cannot be taken as confirmatory. Additional test like morphological, microscopic analytical and forensic tests may have to be undertaken for legal action. It is further provided in the Manual that for identifying the skin of leopard, the hair signature pattern of leopard can be identified if it is having the following pattern: color cremish brown, culticular scale pattern imbricate, medulla-Continuous, Medullary Index-0.657. Admittedly, in the present case no such test were conducted by the complainant and the above mentioned characteristics were also not proved being found on the recovered skins. The expertise of PW3 in identifying the recovered skins has not come on record. It is common knowledge that nowadays with the advent of new technologies fake skins can be prepared with the help of synthetic fibers which might be having same feel and texture as of a natural skin. In the absence of chemical analysis/forensic examination of the skins, it cannot be said with certainty that the recovered skins were of leopard. The complainant has failed to prove the same.”

Four people sentenced to five years imprisonment in wildlife smuggling

Chief Judicial Magistrate of Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand had convicted four people whom were arrested by forest department with a skin each of leopard and leopard cat at Rudraprayag in January 2017. All four accused were sentenced to five years imprisonment and ₹ 10,000 fine each.

Pangolin scales seized in Odisha

Odisha forest officials arrested two persons with 3.5 kg pangolin scales and a leopard skin at Mayurbhanj district on 30 October 2017.

Three leopard skins seized in Pithoragarh

Uttarakhand police seized three leopard skins and arrested a person in Pithoragarh district today morning.

After 17 years wildlife criminal sentenced to 4 years imprisonment

In May 2000 district police of Haridwar, Uttarakhand arrested a person of neighboring Bijnore district with a leopard skin, after a long trial Chief Judicial Magistrate had found him guilty and sentenced the convict to 4 years rigorous imprisonment and ₹20,000 fine on last week.

Four leopard skins and 3 bear gall bladders seized in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand forest officials arrested two persons with 4 leopard skins and 3 bear gall bladders at Rudraprayag forest division on 7 May 2017.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/2-arrested-with-bile-pods-of-black-bear-and-four-leopard-skins/articleshow/58562390.cms

Three years imprisonment for a person caught with leopard skins in Uttarakhand

In June 2013 Uttarakhand police had arrested a person with two leopard skins in Pithoragarh. Judicial Magistrate of Pithoragarh is now convicted the accused in this case for violating section 39 of Wildlife Protection Act and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment and ₹ 10,000 fine.

Two persons from Haryana caught with leopard skins convicted in Delhi

In December 2003 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested two persons from Panipat district of Haryana with two leopard skins and few fake skins in Delhi. After the long trial two accused were now convicted. Court ordered that "The leopard skin is specified in schedule I of the Act and thus the accused have contravened the provisions of Section 49 of the Act. However no evidence had been led on record to show that they were dealing in leopard skins. Therefore, no offence is made out U/s 49B(1) of the Act against accused persons. Accordingly, both the accused are held guilty and are convicted for the offence U/s 49 punishable U/s 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Three persons convicted for trading leopard skin in Delhi

In July 2010 Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested three persons with a leopard skin, after the trial a court in Delhi had found guilty in accused. Court states that "Parliament, in bringing a new legislation for protection of wild life was inspired by the urge to preserve what little is left of wild life. Rapid decline of India's animal wealth, one of the richest in the world once upon a time, would have caused concern not only to the Zoologists and Ornithologists but to all others who know the consequences of deforestation. Some of the rare species have already been wiped out of the earth and some others have reached danger mark predicting total extinction unless expeditious protective measures are adopted. Despite best efforts put in by the Government of almost all the countries across the globe, wild life offences are not coming down. Such case needs to be dealt with strictly to curb the wild life offences."

All three convict were sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for three years and a fine of Rs. 10,000/- each for the offence u/s 49 of Wild Life (Protection) Act. Further sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for three years and a fine of Rs. 10,000/- each for the offence u/s 49-B(1). Both the sentences shall run concurrently.

Leopard skin seized in Kanker, Chhattisgarh

Forest officials arrested three persons with a leopard skin in Kanker district.
http://naidunia.jagran.com/chhattisgarh/kanker-three-arrested-with-leopard-skins-1071551

Three leopard skins and bones seized in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand police arrested a person with three leopard skins and bones in Pithoragarh district on 29 April 2016.
http://www.jagran.com/uttarakhand/pithoragarh-one-arrested-with-leopard-three-skins-and-bones-13942300.html

Wildlife criminals shot dead a police constable in Uttarakhand

A police constable from Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF), Mr. Anant Yadav was shot dead by illegal wildlife traders during an enforcement operation last night to apprehend wildlife criminals at Uttarkashi district. Last month an STF team had successful in arresting an accused with 5 tiger skins and 125 kg tiger bones in Haridwar district.
http://hindi.pradesh18.com/news/uttarakhand/animal-smugglers-encounter-inspector-martyr-1396140.html

Seven leopard skins and bones seized in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand police arrested four persons with 7 leopard skins and bones at Pauri district on 27 January 2016.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/50747300.cms

Leopard skin seizure: 2 years imprisonment to accused

Two persons caught with a leopard skin in December 2008 by police at Rajsamand district of Rajasthan were convicted by a local court and sentenced them to two years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 5,000 fine each.

Woman caught with leopard skins convicted

A woman caught with two leopard skins near Dharchula, Indo-Nepal border in January 2013 by Special Operations Group of police was convicted by the court of Civil Judge (Junior Division) in Pithoragarh. Accused was sentenced three years imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine.

Leopard skin smuggling: Two persons convicted

A local court in Garur, Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand has convicted two persons in connection with the seizure of a leopard skin by police on June 2012. Both accused were sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 10,000 fine each.