HC says bail may not be granted, poaching accused withdraws plea

NAGPUR: The bail application was withdrawn after the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Thursday began oral orders and refused to plead guilty. Assam Rifles’ Havaldar Kapliyan Mung has been accused of being part of a large cross-border tiger poaching network, reports Vaibhav Ganjapure. Munger had sought bail from the HC through Meghalaya Attorney General and senior advocate Amit Kumar in the case arising out of a major wildlife trafficking investigation by the forest department of Rajura in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district. Disposing of the case, Justice MM Nerlikar said: “After hearing the matter, when this court expressed its unwillingness to grant bail, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner sought permission to withdraw the application. He sought liberty to file a fresh application before the trial court after six months.” Investigators said the case exposed a poaching syndicate operating in central India that allegedly killed tigers and trafficked their parts through international routes. The investigation has so far identified 21 defendants, 15 of whom have been arrested. Officials said havaldar Kapliyan Mung’s network included people from Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram who allegedly hunted tigers in collaboration with members of the local Pardi gang. The group is suspected of being involved in tiger poaching since 2018, and investigators believe the group may have killed about 45 tigers in central India.