The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a decisive step in the fight against wildlife crime by filing a Prosecution Complaint (PC) in the Hon’ble Sessions Judge, Khurda at Bhubaneswar -cum-Special Court (PMLA), Bhubaneswar. The accused, identified as Satyaban Sahu, Mahit Bhue, and Souki Thethua, hailing from Odisha’s Baragarh district, face charges related to wildlife poaching.
The Honorable Court, on April 12, 2023, accepted the PC filed by the ED, marking a significant development in the legal proceedings. The Special Task Force, Crime Branch, Odisha, had previously filed a chargesheet and a FIR against the accused, citing violations of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and the Indian Penal Code of 1860.
An ED inquiry revealed that the alleged wildlife poachers were involved in trafficking leopard skins and various wildlife items, including trophies and nails. The seized items, comprising one leopard skin, eleven nail tips, and four teeth, were valued at Rs. 6.30 lakh. The ED’s pursuit not only seeks the conviction and punishment of the accused but also aims to seize the proceeds of the wildlife crime, reinforcing the commitment to combat illegal wildlife trade.
