Maharashtra: Two arrested with ambergris and black buck horns

Pune division officials of the state forest department have arrested two persons with possession of ambergris and black buck horns at a hotel in Bhilarewadi in Haveli taluka of Pune district on Thursday.

The two accused are identified as Hemrao Sikandar Mehta of Balaji Nagar and Rutik Navnath Lekurwale of Thergaon.

Acting on a tip-off, a team led by assistant conservator of forest, Mangesh Tathe, range forest officer Suresh Warak and others laid a trap and nabbed the two suspects when they came to a hotel in Bhilarewadi.

During searches, forest officials allegedly recovered ambergris (also referred as ‘Whale vomit’) estimated at Rs 75 lakh and two black buck horns worth Rs 25,000, from them. An offence was lodged in this case under sections of the Wildlife Protection Act. A court has remanded the two accused to forest custody till December 2 for further investigation, stated a press release issued on Friday.