The Forest Cell of Criminal Intelligence Department (CID) arrested a gang of four men and recovered a python pelt and a leopard pelt worth around Rs 18 lakh.
Based on a tip-off, the personnel of Forest Cell, in the guise of buyers went to Shelton Hotel in Seshadripuram, where the accused showed them the animals pelts. They were caught redhanded.
The accused are Sai Prasad, 54, hailing from Mumbai, Nagaraj, a resident of Kunigal, Narayan, a resident of Belthangady and Kumar.
“We received this information a few days ago, and were trying to get in touch with this group. One of our team members in the guise of a prospective buyer, called them. Initially, they cut the call, but later they called back and we laid a trap. We went to their place and arrested them. All of them have been booked under Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. They would face three to seven years’ term in jail. This is a non-bailable offence,” M K Murali, DOSP, CID, Forest Cell, Bangalore Division, said.