Elephant Poaching In Western Ghats: Madras High Court Constitutes Special Investigation Team

The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed constitution of Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), state police and Forest Department officials to probe into cases relating to elephant poaching and other forest crime reported in the western ghats area. The court further directed the SIT to commence investigation by May 15 and to submit a status report to the court by June 10. The SIT will probe 19 cases that mostly occurred between 2013 and 2018. Justice V Bharatidasan and Justice N Sathish Kumar further gave liberty to the SIT to engage further police officers and forest officers, if needed, after obtaining necessary permission from the authorities and to conduct a detailed enquiry into the matter. The SIT was given power to investigate under the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The government departments were also instructed to extend necessary support to the investigation carried out by the SIT. The court also directed the SIT to even register complaints against the accused and carry on with legal proceedings before the Jurisdictional Magistrates. The court further clarified that the decision to include CBI official from Kerala will be taken after taking note of the investigation carried out by the SIT. The Government of Kerala had sought time to nominate members to the SIT after the government withdrew a general consent to the CBI to investigate cases within the state. The AAG J Ravindran further submitted before the court that a Committee had been set up to identify the officials who had been posted in the area for more than three years and such officials shall be transferred. The decisions of the court was after considering the delay in the investigation carried out by the CBI in the 19 elephant poaching cases reported in the Megamalai area.The SIT will be led by CBI Superintendent of Police Nirmala Devi. It also includes CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police Santhosh Kumar, former Chief Wildlife Warden Shekhar Kumar Niraj, Deputy Conservator of Forests R Rajmohan and IPS officer Mohan Nawaj.Case Title: S. Manoj Immanuel v. Union of India and Ors. Case No: WP (MD) 19771 of 2018

Elephant Poaching In Western Ghats: Madras High Court Constitutes Special Investigation Team

Upasana Sajeev

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