CBI court sentences six to two years’ jail in tiger, leopard parts smuggling case

LUCKNOW: A CBI court in Lucknow has convicted and sentenced six individuals to two years’ imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000 each in a wildlife smuggling case involving tiger and leopard body parts, an official statement said on Tuesday.

The convicts -- Mumtaj Ahmad, Jaibun Nisha, Ajij Ullah, Waheed, Sartaj and Majeed -- were found guilty by the court on March 30, the statement added.

The case relates to a major recovery made during the investigation, in which a large quantity of prohibited wildlife articles was seized from the accused persons’ residences.

According to the statement, the haul included 18,000 leopard nails, 74 leopard skins, four tiger skins, and bones of both tigers and leopards.

All the seized items fall under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides the highest level of protection and bans their possession, trade, and transportation, the statement further said.