A team of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) along with forest department officials conducted a raid at the house of a retired colonel, Devindra Kumar and recovered at least 117 kg nilgai meat, animal skin, ivory and 40 guns from the house in Civil lines police station area of Meerut on Sunday.
The 17-hour-long joint raid started on Saturday in the afternoon and continued till 3:30 AM on Sunday. Kumar’s son Prashant Bishnoi is a national-level shooter. Kumar runs a security agency in the area and is a prominent person.
Circle Officer, Civil lines, Meerut, Nitish Kumar Singh said the local police assisted the team in conducting the raid after the team started the search.
He said the animal body parts/ limbs and skin were taken into custody by the forest officials while the cash and other items were seized by the DRI officials.
The CO said a case would be registered in this connection under different section of IPC and also under the Wildlife Protection Act. He added that the forest department officials too are conducting a probe into the case. “They are yet to give a written complaint so that we proceed,” the CO said.
A DRI official said the raid was conducted in connection with a disproportionate assets case and 117 kg meat of nilgai, `1 crore in cash, 40 guns (including pistols, single barrel), five skulls of deer, horns of Sambar deer, antlers of antelope and black buck, animal skin and ivory were seized from a makeshift warehouse at Kumar’s residence.
Chief Conservator of Forests Mukesh Kumar said “The meat of blue bull was seized from a refrigerator. Sample was taken and it will be sent to laboratory for testing.” He said an action will be taken against the retired army officer and Bishnoi under relevant provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.