A Sub-Inspector of Police of Tiruchi District Armed Reserve was arrested on Monday by Villupuram Forest Range officials for illegal sale of ivory gift items and their links with persons who sold ivory items illegally last month.
The arrested sub-inspector, Manivannan, 50, was produced before a court in Villupuram and sent to judicial custody.
A Tiruchi Rural Police press release on Tuesday said that acting on a tip-off, Villupuram forest range officials arrested some persons who were illegally selling gift items made of ivory and registered a case under various sections on November 14. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It was revealed in the statements made by them during the interrogation regarding the sub-inspector of police involved in this crime. He was named as one of the 13 accused in the case.
The sub-inspector illegally sold some ivory from his relatives as gifts through the accused. This has come out based on the statement of the accused. After that, the sub-inspector was suspended on November 25.
Villupuram forest range officials had on December 14 directed the sub-inspector to come for enquiry. The sub-inspector appeared at the Villupuram forest range office on Monday morning for questioning during which his relationship with the accused was established which resulted in his arrest, the release added.
published – December 17, 2024 at 08:34 pm IST