MP: Ex-ruler surrenders trophies of wild animals

The erstwhile Rajgarh state ruler Varunaditya Singh surrendered 15 trophies of wild animals, including those of tigers, leopards and wild buffaloes, to the forest department.

The erstwhile Rajgarh state ruler Varunaditya Singh surrendered 15 trophies of wild animals, including those of tigers, leopards and wild buffaloes, to the forest department.

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None of these trophies are registered with the department, though it is mandatory as per a government order passed in 2005.

These trophies are of animals which were hunted by his ancestors and the dates on which they were hunted have been embossed on each trophy.

All of them are in excellent condition and two of them are trophies of an entire leopard and a tiger.

Though it is an offence to retain such trophies, forest officials said Singh had told them he was unaware of their existence.

He had informed the police that he had left his house Rajgarh Kothi on AB Road in Geeta Bhavan area when he was eight years old for studies.

Singh informed the police that he had found these trophies in a storeroom when he recently visited his ancestral house.

In a letter dated March 31, 2015, Varunaditya Singh said he was surrendering the trophies lying in the palace "to be kept in government custody till the certificate and/or licence to hold the said trophies is granted to me."

However, sources said Varunaditya Singh had also informed the forest department about the trophies.

Chief conservator of forests, Indore, RR Okhandiyar, said prima facie it does not appear that there was any mala fide intention on Varunaditya’s part and nor did it appear that any of the animals had been killed recently.

"We have seized the trophies and have informed the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) about it. We might display these trophies at the museum at Ralamandal sanctuary," he said.