Forest department begins probe on complaint against Suresh Gopi
The Pattikkad Range Forest Officer has issued a notice to the complainant A.A. Muhammad Hashim, an office-bearer of the INTUC Young Workers Council, to appear before him on July 21 at 10.30 a.m. for recording his statement.
In his complaint to the Divisional Forest Officer, Thrissur, last month, Mr. Hashim had stated that Mr. Gopi was seen sporting a pendant in a chain while attending two public functions in Thrissur and Kannur. The complainant had also produced news video clips of the actor walking on a public road wearing the chain with the pendant in which had a suspected leopard tooth fixed.
The notice was issued under Section 50 (7) of the Wildlife Protection Act, which states that forest officials shall help persons who approach them seeking assistance to prevent an offence against the Act. The Act also notes that the officer is also duty-bound to assist such persons to apprehend those charged with the violation of the Act or for seizure.
Witnesses, proof
The complainant has been asked to appear before the investigation officer to share details of the complaint. He was also asked to produce witnesses and evidence to substantiate his complaint, which would help the forest official in the investigation.
The official has also cautioned that it will be presumed that the complainant has nothing to communicate to the department in the case in the event of him not turning up before the investigation officer on the prescribed date.
Actor to be summoned
The investigation officer will summon Mr. Gopi to record his statement after recording the statement of the complainant. The future course of action will be decided after evaluating the statements of the complainant, according to Forest department sources.
The Act prohibits the possession of wildlife trophy other than those with certificates of ownership. Acquiring, receiving, keeping in control, custody or possession of any captive animal, animal article, trophy or uncured trophy specified in Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II, except by way of inheritance, is an offence. Offences related to wild animals such as leopards, which are included in Schedule 1 of the Act, including the possession of a trophy, can attract a jail term between three and seven years and a fine, he pointed out.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Leopard rescued from foot trap in Daund
A six-year-old female leopard was rescued from a hunting foot trap in a sugarcane field in Nangaon village, Daund taluka, in a joint operation by the Pune Forest Department and RESQ Charitable Trust. Officials said this could be the third instance of a leopard being found caught in a hunting foot trap in the region over the past three years. The adult female leopard was found with her left forelimb caught in an iron foot trap. (HT PHOTO) The incident was reported at 10am on Friday by Aniket Shinde, sarpanch, Nangaon village, who alerted range forest officer Rahul Kale and the RESQ team. Forest department staff of Daund range and RESQ members reached the location by 11am. The adult female leopard was found with her left forelimb caught in an iron foot trap. She was visibly exhausted, likely from struggling through the night. The animal was immobilised and extracted by 1:15pm, with immediate field stabilisation carried out by Dr Kalyani Thakur, senior veterinarian at RESQ CT. Dr Thakur said, 'The limb was tightly constricted, with considerable trauma to the leg and detailed radiographs will be conducted to assess the severity of injuries. The leopard has been admitted to the Wildlife Transit Treatment Centre, Bavdhan, Pune, and is under medical observation.' Mahadev Mohite, deputy conservator of forests (territorial), Pune Division, condemned the use of such devices. 'Foot traps are not only inhumane, but strictly illegal under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. We urge local communities to report any such activities to the forest department. An official investigation into the incident is underway.' In December 2024, a leopard was discovered caught in a foot trap, but managed to break free and escape before forest officials could rescue it. Vishal Chavan, assistant conservator of forests, Pune forest division, said, 'A preliminary offence report (PoR) was registered, and an inquiry was conducted with 10 suspected individuals. Such foot traps are often set by locals to protect their crops from wild boars, but this practice is illegal.'
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Channel's ex-HR head accessed police crime database, got password from cop
Noida: A former human resources head of a private news channel and a head constable were arrested for allegedly breaching UP Police's crime tracking network and selling confidential information. The accused, Lalit Pandit of Greater Noida and head constable Prashant Solanki of Baghpat, were detained on Friday and arrested on Saturday. Police say Solanki provided Pandit with login credentials for the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) — a centralised database of case files, criminal histories, confidential FIRs and other sensitive information — which Pandit then used to monitor police activities and leak data for money. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida Police sources said Pandit sold information, including details of confidential FIRs and cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, to lawyers and others for cash. "The head constable also received a share of the proceeds. We have identified at least two transactions of Rs 10,000 each between them," SHO Sector 63 Avdesh Pratap Singh said. According to police, Pandit had previously worked for News India, a news channel in Noida's Sector 63. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ghzalah Abu Bdon: Unsold Sofas Prices May Surprise You (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo Solanki, a 2014-batch constable, has served in several police stations across Noida, including served in Dadri, Rabupura, Beta Two, and Kasna. Currently, he is posted at Khair police station in Aligarh. He is suspected of sharing his CCTNS credentials with Pandit while posted at Kasna police station earlier this year. The breach came to light after Pandit allegedly posted sensitive Pocso case data on social media—an offence that prompted his detention. Police said they were now examining the duration and extent of the breach, as well as identifying the possible buyers of the leaked information. Both men have been booked under relevant provisions of the BNS and the Official Secrets Act. On Saturday, a local court remanded them in judicial custody. CCTNS is a 'mission mode project' under the national e-Governance plan of govt of India aimed at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
MCOCA court acquits 4 allegedly part of the Anees Ibrahim gang
MUMBAI: A special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOC) Act court has acquitted four alleged members of a crime syndicate led by Anees Ibrahim, brother of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar. The four were suspects in a ₹50-lakh extortion bid against a Malad hotelier between July 2017 and June 2018. MCOCA court acquits 4 allegedly part of the Anees Ibrahim gang Special Judge Mahesh K Jadhav said the prosecution had 'utterly failed' to establish that the accused had conspired with Anees and his close aide Chhota Shakil to threaten and extort money from the victim. The court added that the evidence did not prove a criminal conspiracy or the mandatory 'continued unlawful activity required to invoke the MCOC Act. The case relates to an FIR registered on June 22, 2018, at the Malad police station, later transferred to the anti-extortion cell of the police crime branch. According to the police, the victim, a hotelier with business interests in Dubai, began getting calls and WhatsApp messages from international numbers demanding ₹50 lakh. One of these numbers was allegedly operated by the wanted accused Nasir Khan in Pakistan. The complainant told the court that one of his hotel's investors had been murdered in 2001 allegedly by associates of Anees Ibrahim. The accused were therefore threatening to murder the victim too if he refused to pay them. According to the prosecution, among the accused was Ramdas Parshuram Rahane, 49, alias Hemant/Sameer Jagtap, who sent threats and demanded money from the victim. The others included Harish Shamlal Gyanchandani, 51, who allegedly channelled funds through informal channels, Aziz Abdul Unni Mohamed, 62, alias Ajju Rolex, and Mohamad Altaf Abdul Latif Syed, 57, who allegedly represented Anees's overseas network, and Danish Ali Jamaluddin Ahmed, 43, who was discharged and pardoned after he provided testimony against the other accused. Evidence in the case included WhatsApp chats, voice notes, call data records, and alleged recoveries–a pistol from Rahane, a licensed revolver from Mohamed, and digital devices–as well as the approver's testimony. However, the court noted that Ahmed's testimony had not been corroborated, and there were inconsistencies in witness accounts. The court said that the chain of custody for the electronic evidence was unclear, and added that Mohamed had a valid license for the arms he possessed and they were unrelated to the alleged conspiracy. As per the judgement, there were contradictions in the witness testimony, inconsistencies in the voice recordings, and no material to corroborate the evidence. Representatives of the accused argued that the evidence did not establish that the five had colluded with each other or the wanted gangsters. The court agreed and acquitted all five, and ordered their bail bonds to be cancelled, and sureties to be returned.
