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Pune Crime Files | How chinkara poachers were nabbed after a thrilling night chase in Indapur forest

The most sensational case of chinkara killing in Pune was the 2008 case in which Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Minister Dharmarao Baba Atram was arrested for allegedly poaching the protected animal.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Dec 15, 2025 06:44 PM IST

Chinkara poachers nabbed after a thrilling night chase in Indapur forest

After a thrilling chase in the forests during the night, forest officials, with the help of local villagers, intercepted the motorcycle and nabbed two riders on it. (Express Photo)

Pune district has witnessed multiple incidents of deaths of the chinkara—an animal protected under the Wildlife Protection Act—due to accidents and poaching. In 2021, the forest department arrested two men within a short time after they allegedly gunned down a chinkara in the forest areas of Indapur taluka.

As per the forest department’s records, its patrolling team saw an unusual torchlight in the forest areas of Kalas-Kazad villages in Indapur on the night of May 18, 2021. The forest officials rushed to the spot and found two people moving suspiciously on a motorcycle. It was around 10 pm, and the forest department team, comprising then range forest officer (RFO) Rahul Kale and forest guards Ashok Narute and Pooja Kate, chased the motorcycle.

After a thrilling chase in the forests during the night hours, the forest officials, with the help of local villagers Atul Narute, Vinod Narute, and Sandip Narute, intercepted the motorcycle and nabbed the two riders on it.

Forest officials said a gunny bag was found in possession of the two men—identified as Mahesh Jangalu Mane, then aged 40 years, and Dattatraya Popat Pawar, then 42, both residents of different villages in Indapur taluka. During searches, a chinkara’s body was recovered from their bag.

A chinkara’s body was recovered from their bag. (Express Photo)

“There were bloody injuries on the chinkara’s dead body. As we searched the two suspects further, we found a 9 mm rifle, six live cartridges, and one empty cartridge in their possession. The probe revealed that the duo had hunted the chinkara, which is illegal. So we seized the weapons and the motorcycle used by the two suspects for committing the crime,” said Rahul Kale.

The police found a 9 mm rifle, six live cartridges, and one empty cartridge in their possession. (Express Photo)

Mane and Pawar were subsequently arrested under sections of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 for allegedly poaching the chinkara. “The accused possessed the rifle illegally. They had no previous criminal record. The case against them is pending before a court,” said RFO Bhagyashree Thakur.

Later, in September 2021, local residents said two chinkaras had been shot dead in the Abhayvan Kadbanwadi forest area in Indapur. The forest department then registered a case against unidentified people under section 9 (prohibition of hunting) of the Wildlife Protection Act and section 26 (trespassing into a reserved forest area) of the Indian Forest Act.

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Some local residents claimed they had heard gunshots and seen a four-wheeler in which the poachers had come to the spot and transported the dead chinkaras. Investigators from the department visited the spot but found no clues like bloodstains or any body parts of the animals or empty bullet rounds.

The most sensational case of chinkara killing in Pune was the 2008 case in which NCP leader Dharmarao Baba Atram, who is now the food and drug administration minister, was arrested for allegedly poaching the protected animal.

The chinkara is also known as the Indian gazelle (Gazella Bennettii).

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More

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