Court rejects bail plea of suspect in pangolin scales trafficking case

Bhopal: A district court in Jabalpur has rejected the bail application of a suspect in a wildlife trafficking case involving the illegal trade of pangolin scales, officials of the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) said on Friday.The bail plea of Vijay Kumar Gray, a resident of Jabalpur, was rejected by the District and Sessions Court, Jabalpur. According to the STSF, the court took note of the seriousness of the offence, the organised nature of the alleged wildlife trafficking network and the material collected during the investigation.The case pertains to the seizure of around 5 kg of pangolin scales during an operation conducted by the STSF’s Jabalpur regional unit in Katni district earlier this month.Acting on inputs received from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), the STSF laid a trap near Jhinna Pipariya village on the Dhimarkheda-Khamtara road in Katni district on June 8. Four persons were arrested during the operation.Officials seized about 5 kg of pangolin scales along with a motorcycle and a car allegedly used in the transportation of the contraband. A forest offence case was subsequently registered and an investigation is underway.

Pangolins are among the world’s most trafficked mammals and are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides the highest level of legal protection to endangered species. Forest officials said the seizure is part of ongoing efforts to crack down on organised wildlife crime networks involved in the illegal trade of protected species and their body parts.