The city’s prestigious Chandigarh Club was raided on Friday for alleged illegal use of deep sea corals, an endangered marine species. The value of recovered coral is worth crores in the international market.
The raid was conducted on a tip-off from the People for Animals (PFA), an animal welfare organisation, under the guidance of the UT Conservator of Forest Santosh Kumar, said the police.
Sources from the PFA said that they had received special information that an endangered species of sea coral was being used as antique pieces in the aquarium of Chandigarh Club. Following which, a raid was conducted.
During the raid, PFA and Forest Department found that the sea coral was lying inside the fish aquarium of Chandigarh Club. The recovered coral is a source of living for many endangered species of fishes, said Chetan Sharma from PFA.
The PFA officials further claimed that the rescued coral is approximately worth Rsfive crore in the market. It was seized under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and would be sent to the Forensic Science laboratory.
Meanwhile, a case has been registered in the matter against the concerned officials of Chandigarh Club.
“PFA have claimed that the recovered coral is an endangered species, but UT police will first inquire whether the recovered coral is original or duplicate. Investigations will be initiated after a forensic test in this matter,” said UT DIG AS Cheema.