The Noida police arrested a man and seized two leopard skins from his possession in Sector 18, Noida, on Saturday. The skins are worth Rs 5 lakh in the international market.
TJ Singh, the officer in-charge of the Sector 18 police station, said, “We received information that some persons were bringing leopard skins to Noida and laid a trap.”
“We sighted the man near nursery around 7.30 am He was carrying a bag that contained leopard skins. Posing as a customer, we spoke to him. A deal was struck for Rs 3 lakh for the two skins. We arrested him after that and took him to police station and he was subjected to further interrogation,” Singh added.
The arrested man was identified as Satyaveer Tyagi, a resident of Kaili village in Meerut district. “Tyagi claimed this is his first offence. He said he was waiting for a trader who was to take him to a customer in Delhi. When we went posed as customers, he did not suspect he was being trapped. He thought he would strike a second deal and earn some extra cash,” said Singh.
“He revealed during interrogation that he had bought the leopard skins from Bharat Bhandari from Chamoli in Uttranchal for Rs 60,000 each. The size of the skins was eight feet by two and half feet each. A police team has been sent to trace Bhandari,” said Singh.
{{/usCountry}}“He revealed during interrogation that he had bought the leopard skins from Bharat Bhandari from Chamoli in Uttranchal for Rs 60,000 each. The size of the skins was eight feet by two and half feet each. A police team has been sent to trace Bhandari,” said Singh.
{{/usCountry}}“A first conviction is punishable with imprisonment for not less than three years but may extend to seven years, with a fine of not less than Rs 50,000 that may be increased to Rs 2 lakh. Any subsequent conviction will lead to imprisonment for not less than seven years, with a fine of not less than Rs 5 lakh, which may be extended to Rs 50 lakh,” said Singh.