Days after Bigg Boss Kannada contestant Varthur Santhosh was arrested for wearing a tiger claw pendant on the show, the forest department on Tuesday issued notices to two more people, asking them to appear for questioning in the case , officials familiar with the matter said.
According to officials, notices have been issued to Santhosh’s close aide Ranjit and a jeweller who allegedly made the gold chain. Meanwhile, the forest officials have sent the tiger claw to the forensic lab to ascertain its authenticity, officials added.
Santhosh was arrested on Sunday night by the forest department for wearing a tiger claw pendant during the reality show. The television personality was arrested from the sets of the television show, after the crew brought him out of the Bigg Boss house. He was arrested on the basis of a suo-motu complaint filed by the forest department under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which makes wearing or displaying any body part of animals a punishable offence.
Santhosh was produced before the Second Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) court at National Games Village in Bengaluru’s Koramangala on Monday. The magistrate sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. He was taken for a medical test and was questioned for several hours on Monday, officials privy to the developments said.
Santhosh’s advocate had filed for bail on Monday and the judge gave time for the prosecution to submit objection till Wednesday. The plea is likely to come up for hearing on October 25.
{{/usCountry}}Santhosh’s advocate had filed for bail on Monday and the judge gave time for the prosecution to submit objection till Wednesday. The plea is likely to come up for hearing on October 25.
{{/usCountry}}Varthur Santosh, popularly known as ‘Hallikar Odeya,’ gained recognition and fame through his involvement in the conservation and breeding of the Hallikar breed of cattle. As the chairman of the Hallikar Cattle Breed or the All India Hallikar Breed Conservation Committee, he is said to have played an instrumental role in preserving this unique breed of cattle. He became a hit on social media after some of his videos went viral and the initiative earned him a ticket to Bigg Boss Kannada.
Meanwhile, close on the heels of Santhosh’s arrest, a similar case has come to the fore in Chikkamagaluru. The Mudigere forest department staff have arrested two people who were wearing tiger claw pendants, officials said on Tuesday.
The accused have been identified as Satish, a resident of Kundra village near Bharatibailu, and KS Ranjith, a resident of Hullemane Kundur. According to officials, two other accused who were allegedly selling tiger claws in Kundra and Hullemane villages of Mudigere taluk are absconding.