3 arrested for possessing leopard skin

The crime branch of Pune city police on Tuesday arrested three persons from near Fergusson College for alleged possession of leopard skin,which has been sent for confirmatory tests.

The suspects Mahesh Shivaji Donhe (25) of Janta Vasahat,Parvati,Deepak Hastabahadur Dhami (29) of Ganesh Nagar,Kothrud and Nilesh Eknath Dhadwe (24),a resident of Wadgaon Budruk,were arrested on a tip-off.

A team of Anti-Terrorist Cell (ATC) of Pune police crime branch,led by inspector Sunil Tambe,laid a trap and nabbed the trio near Fergusson College.

Police recovered the skin from a a blue bag they were carrying . Police believe the seized skin could cost around Rs 3 lakh. An offence under the Wild Life Prevention Act,1972 has been registered against the suspects at Deccan Gymkhana police station.

Police sent the skin to the office of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI),Akurdi,for analysis.

We came to know from the ZSI officials the skin is original. We are awaiting the report that will be issued after a detailed analysis of the skin. Primary investigation revealed that suspects had got the skin from another state and were planning to sell it in Pune, said inspector Tambe.

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