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Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Indian Express
Pune Crime Files: How ‘Rakt Chandan' smugglers exploited loophole in Customs clearance
The Pimpri-Chinchwad police recently arrested a key accused in the red sandalwood smuggling racket busted by the crime branch in March this year. A probe into this case has revealed how Pune is an important transit point for the smuggling of red sandalwood to foreign countries via the ports in Mumbai. It also revealed the modus operandi of the syndicate to obtain clearance from the Customs Department for transporting coconut fibre ropes while secretly smuggling red sandalwood in containers. The police have arrested eight people in connection with the case. Red sandalwood, also known as Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) or Rakt Chandan, is a rare and precious wood that naturally grows only in India, that, too, only in the Seshachalam hill ranges in the Kadapa, Chittoor and Nellore districts on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is an endangered species, protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Its export and import have been banned since 1994. Acting on a tip-off, a crime branch team led by Assistant Police Inspector Mahesh Khande and Sub Inspector Bharat Gosavi intercepted a container near the old Urse toll post on the Pune–Mumbai Expressway, around 2.30 pm on March 2. The police initially found bundles of 'kathya' (coconut fibre ropes) in the container. When the container was searched thoroughly, huge logs of red sandalwood were found hidden under the bundles of coconut fibre ropes, the police said. The container driver, Rajaram Gaykhe, 37, from Ahilyanagar, and cleaner Harpreetsingh Bhadana, 42, from Thane, were arrested. An FIR was lodged against them at the Shirgaon Parandwadi police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Indian Forest Act 1927, and the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964. The police seized 11,490 kg of red sandalwood logs, estimated at Rs 9 crore, from the container. Senior Police Inspector Vijay Dhamal, the investigation officer, said the seized sandalwood came from the forests in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. 'After reaching Pune by container, it was unloaded at a spot in Kapurhol (a village in the Bhor taluka in the Pune district). The container, then carrying only coconut fibre ropes, went to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) and procured a gate pass from the Customs department for transporting the same.' 'The containers are not immediately loaded into the ships. There is a queue of about 12 hours to 20 hours. Taking advantage of this time period, the racketeers returned to Pune, loaded the red sandalwood in the container, hiding it behind the coconut fibre ropes. Then, while they were secretly transporting the red sandalwood to the JNPT, also called the Nhava Sheva port, via the Pune–Mumbai expressway, we seized it.' The officer said the accused would get a gate pass from Customs, then load the red sandalwood kept at different spots in the containers and come back to the port within eight hours. It is then smuggled to Dubai, and from there to countries like China and Japan, he said. Dhamal said that during the investigation, they arrested three men, Shrikant Bhilare, Deepak Sable, and Indrajit Mane, for their alleged role in the transportation of red sandalwood. 'We also arrested an accused, Najir Khan, linked to the red sandalwood syndicate in Andhra,' he said. Shivaji Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said on July 10, crime branch sleuths arrested the key accused Rajendra Vitthal Shinde, 43, of Vashi in Navi Mumbai. His interrogation led to the arrest of Tausif Riyaz Jamadar of Kopar Khairane in Navi Mumbai on July 11. 'Tausif managed to get the Customs clearance at the port, thus playing a crucial role in red sandalwood smuggling. He operated with the fake name Kalpesh Singh. Rajendra Shinde and Tausif are the prime accused who were arrested in similar cases in the past. A search is on for two more suspects. So far, we have not found the involvement of any Customs officials in this case,' said Inspector Dhamal. Previous instances of red sandalwood smuggling In the past, too, there have been multiple cases of red sandalwood smuggling via Pune. In July 2024, the Pune regional unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 8 metric tonnes of red sandalwood worth Rs 7.9 crore from a container soon after it entered the JNPT for export. DRI probe revealed that red sandalwood was concealed behind the polished granite slabs and cement bricks. Five people were arrested in this case. In May 2021, the Pimpri Chinchwad police seized over six tonnes of red sandalwood worth over Rs 6 crores from a truck parked in the Tathawade area. The consignment was meant to go abroad via a port near Mumbai. Five people, including three from Mumbai and one from Karnataka, were arrested. In April 2018, police seized sandalwood worth a few crores of rupees, kept below the empty glass bottles in a container, from the Wakad area on the Mumbai–Bengaluru highway. Investigators believe that Red sandalwood was traditionally used to carve Hindu idols, design picture frames and make dolls, besides household containers. However, it is now in greater demand in foreign countries for producing medicines, facial creams, musical instruments, and other purposes. Investigations also revealed that China is the main buyer of the red sanders smuggled out of India. Biodiversity experts say that 'Pterosibilin' is extracted from red sandalwood to make herbal sex pills, which are very costly. Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007. Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Morni Hills: HC mandates forest demarcation, settlement of people's rights by year-end
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered complete demarcation of the boundary of the forest and settlement of the rights of the people in the Morni Hills area by Dec 31. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In its detailed order, the HC has empowered the forest settlement officer (FSO) to, forthwith, take requisite steps to ensure expeditious submission of his report. Thereafter the state shall issue notification under Section 20 of Indian Forest Act 1927 of the scheduled land as a reserved forest latest by Dec 31. "The FSO shall be handed over all the documents qua demarcation and survey which are presently in possession of the revenue authorities, forest authorities and Survey of India and the FSO shall be provided, forthwith, with all requisite facilities/infrastructure to enable him to discharge his duties contemplated in Chapter II of 1927 Act including making inquiry, entry, survey, demarcation, preparing map, acquiring land and exercising powers of a civil court, etc," the HC has clarified in its detailed order released on Friday. The court has also clarified that there will be complete ban on all non-forest activities in the Morni Hills area till the completion of the process. The secretary of the Haryana forest department has been asked to file a compliance affidavit, in terms of the directions made hereinabove, within seven months from, failure wherein may invite punitive consequences. Division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel has passed these orders while disposing of a petition filed by a local activist Vijay Bansal. He had sought directions to conduct the settlement, in terms of Punjab Land Revenue Act 1887 and Punjab Settlement Manual, of Morni Hills area and incidental directions. Counsel for the petitioner, advocate Ravi Sharma submitted that the residents of Morni Hills area come within the definition of traditional forest dwellers for all intents and purposes, but no efforts have been made to treat them as such. The prime issue before the HC was as to whether the settlement of the Morni Hills area, including the process of demarcation, is required to be carried out entirely by the FSO alone, and expeditiously or not. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The state government had raised the objection, that FSO has no jurisdiction to conduct demarcation & survey of the area proposed to be proclaimed as reserved forest, and the said power lies within the exclusive domain of the revenue authorities, it would be apt to deal with this objection. Rejecting the state's stand, the bench observed that once a special law i.e. Indian Forest Act 1927 is enacted covering the entire subject matter of Reserved Forest, the FSO assumes exclusive jurisdiction for performing all substantive and ancillary functions including demarcation and survey. "The entire exercise of survey and demarcation being done by Revenue Authorities is required to be handed over to the FSO already appointed, who shall henceforth conduct & conclude the survey, demarcation, preparation of maps and discharging all functions under Chapter II of 1927 Act," held the bench. Expressing shock over the delay on the part of the officers of the state government officials for delay in completing the process, the HC observed that such inaction on the part of such officers, particularly in a matter of such profound public importance, merits the unequivocal condemnation of this court. "The State, as the ultimate custodian and protector of its citizens' rights, is endowed with a solemn responsibility to act with dispatch and diligence, especially when confronted with issues of pressing environmental concern. The prolonged failure to finalize the process initiated by the December 18, 1987 notification, undermines the very spirit of the 1927 Act and betrays a shocking lack of urgency," the HC has observed. Lungs of Tricity "The Morni Hills are serving as the prime green cover acting as lungs for the Tricity of Chandigarh-Panchkula-Mohali. Indubitably, the authorities are required to take a decision, one way or the other, regarding completion of the process which begins with issuance of notification under Section 4(1) of the 1927 Act and culminates upon a notification issued under Section 20 of the 1927 Act," HC said. The delay Nov 1966 | Haryana came into being. The hilly area of Morni block was included in the then Ambala district though the area was akin to the semi area of the Himachal Pradesh, as their problems are also of similar nature, one of them being the problem of "Nau-Taur". The state of Himachal Pradesh has solved the problem of "NauTaur" land and rights of its people long ago. Nau-Taur means the right to utilise with the sanction of the competent authority, waste land owned by the government outside the towns. Oct 15, 1980 | The then Haryana CM made a declaration regarding the rights of "Nau-Taur" to be given to the people of Morni area on the public demand. 1987-88 | A committee headed by then commissioner Ambala division submitted a detailed report regarding the rights of people of Morni Area which is known as T D Jogpal report and recommended the immediate fresh settlement. Nov 30, 1987 | The revenue department appointed then sub-divisional officer (civil) Kalka as settlement officer Morni Hills in addition to his duties. However, the process has not been completed till date in spite of spending crores of rupees on salary and allowances. After SDM Kalka, one M P Sharma, a retired Indian Forest Services (IFS) officer was appointed by the government as an 'FSO'.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
Thane Police bust: Truck with illegal khair wood caught; Rs 41 lakh load, driver held
THANE: The Thane crime branch unit-5 arrested a truck driver for illegally transporting prohibited khair wood worth over Rs 41 lakh in a late-night operation near Nitin Naka. Acting on credible intelligence received on June 16, 2025, Assistant Police Inspector Sharad Patil of Crime Branch Wagle Unit 5 learned that a Gujarat registered truck would be illegally transporting prohibited khair wood via the Nitin Naka route around 1:00 AM on June 17, heading towards Majiwada. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Based on this information, police laid a trap on the designated route and successfully intercepted the vehicle. The arrested accused was identified as Anilkumar Ramchandra Gupta, aged 54 years, who works as a driver and resides in Dhule. During the inspection of the seized truck, police discovered 10.5 tons of khair wood solid timber logs valued at Rs 31.72 lakh. The total seizure, including the Gujarat registered truck, amounts to Rs 41.75 lakh. 'The consignment was picked up from Nandurbar and was headed to the Konkan region. The other links of the accused are under investigation,' said Salil Bhisale, Senior Inspector of Crime Branch Unit-5. A case was registered at Wagle Estate Police Station under various sections, including Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 303(2), 3(5), and Indian Forest Act 1927 Sections 41(B), 42, and 72(B). Assistant Police Inspector Shri Sharad Yuvraj Patel of Unit 5 Wagle is conducting further investigation into the matter. Khair wood is a protected species under the Indian Forest Act, and its unauthorized transportation and trade are strictly prohibited.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
Truck driver arrested for illegal transportation of prohibited khair wood worth Rs 32 lakh near Mumbai
Thane: The Thane crime branch unit-5 arrested a truck driver for illegally transporting prohibited khair wood worth over Rs 32 lakh in a late-night operation near Nitin Naka. Acting on credible intelligence received on June 16, 2025, assistant police inspector Sharad Patil of Crime Branch Wagle Unit 5 learned that a Gujarat registered truck would be illegally transporting prohibited khair wood via the Nitin Naka route around 1 am on June 17, heading towards Majiwada. Based on this information, police laid a trap on the designated route and successfully intercepted the vehicle. The arrested accused was identified as Anilkumar Ramchandra Gupta, aged 54 years, who works as a driver and resides in Dhule. During the inspection of the seized truck, police discovered 10.5 tons of khair wood solid timber logs valued at Rs 31.72 lakh. The total seizure, including the Gujarat registered truck, amounts to Rs 41.75 lakh. "The consignment was picked up from Nandurbar and was headed to the Konkan region. The other links of the accused are under investigation," Salil Bhisale, senior inspector of Crime Branch Unit-5, said. A case was registered at Wagle Estate Police Station under various sections, including Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 303(2), 3(5), and Indian Forest Act 1927 Sections 41(B), 42, and 72(B). Assistant police inspector Sharad Yuvraj Patel of Unit 5 Wagle is conducting further investigation into the matter. Khair wood is a protected species under the Indian Forest Act, and its unauthorized transportation and trade are strictly prohibited.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Time of India
Forest officials seize 201 kg of sandalwood, search for suspect underway
Pune: Officials from the Junnar division of the state forest department have seized 201kg of sandalwood and confiscated an SUV and an iPhone after a long operation on operation began after the department received information regarding illegal sandalwood transport from sources in the Bori village of Junnar taluka. The tip-off led to the launch of a three to four days long the long operation, a team of officials was standing by near the house of a suspect around 7.30 on Tuesday. The suspect came near the house in an SUV. The team stopped the SUV and questioned the suspect. He, however, left everything and gave officials a slip. Officials said they could not catch him because of the darkness in the officials, however, inspected the SUV. They found 8 gunny bags of pieces of sandalwood with the bark shaved off. The total weight of the seized sandalwood is 201 to the team, the person is a local resident and owns farmlands nearby. He was illegally transporting the sandalwood to sell it in teams of forest officials have been dispatched to search for the accused."We are waiting to catch him to further understand the network of the sandalwood racket. Even though farmers are allowed to grow and sell sandalwood with permission, most of the material sold in such illegal rackets is sourced from naturally grown trees on govt land. As of now, we know it is illegal since we do not know of many people who have taken permission for growing sandalwood in the region," said Amrit Shinde, assistant conservator of forests, Junnar division.A case has been registered under Sections 41(2b), 42, and 69 of the Indian Forest Act 1927, along with Sections 31, 32, 53 and 82 of the Maharashtra Forest Rules 2014. This can lead to up to 2 years of imprisonment if trading is conducted between sunset and sunrise of the next day, alongside a 5,000 rupee fine.
