Leopards’ killing case: Tehelka staff held by CBI

The CBI’s move is being seen as an attempt to force information out of Badal. Officials admitted that his interrogation was vital in unravelling the missing links in the poaching case.

Badal, working under the alias of ‘‘Pankaj’’, is reported to have hired two poachers, Inam and Meherban, to skin four endangered animals — including three leopards — so that he could film it for a wildlife story he was said to be working on. Badal’s visiting card, given to the two poachers who are now in judicial custody, identified him as a ‘‘research assistant’’ working with a company.

CBI officials claimed that Badal was in constant touch with the two poachers and had even footed their telephone bills, apart from paying them Rs 15,000 for carrying out the exercise. According to a senior CBI officer, the poachers claimed that they had handed over a video-cassette, taping the process of skinning the animals, to Badal.

Pointing out that the portal did not run the story, officials said the delay raised doubts about their intentions. The CBI has not been able to find the cassette so far.

The poacher duo have reportedly revealed that they used to get in touch with ‘‘Pankaj’’ on his cellphone. During raids on Badal’s Vasundhra Enclave residence on June 26, the CBI seized documents related to the mobile number, which belongs to Buffalo Networks Private Limited, as well as his appointment letters.

Apart from that, the agency has also gathered evidence of Badal’s stay in hotels in Saharanpur, establishing that he was in the area around the time of the poaching incident.