Now it’s horns in ayurvedic medicines in MP

Two months after the probe was initiated, the Forest Department said: ‘‘The antlers were dumped at the unit by a sadhu who vanished after spending a few hours in the unit.’’

Federation MD V R Khare said, ‘‘Unless we find the sadhu, we can’t take action against anyone. The sadhu left no trace before disappearing into the jungle.’’ Khare, however, denied the allegation that the manufacturing unit used powdered antlers. He said the probe was on and the unit had been told not to use antlers because it constitutes an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act. He admitted that samples from the unit had not been tested in any laboratory.

But the manager of the unit has been on the run ever since the seizure was made. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Dr P B Gangopadhyay said, ‘‘It is clear that the unit should have handed the antlers to the Forest Department because possession of undeclared antlers is also an offence punishable with jail term.’’

The allegation on the antlers stems from an application the unit had made to the forest authorities requesting that it be allowed to use powdered antlers in the medicines as quoted in the Vedic texts. The application was not considered.