The Ghatkopar police of Mumbai Police’s Zone 7 have arrested two men on the charges of smuggling two elephant tusks, collectively valued at ₹20 lakh. The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Wildlife Protection Act.
The accused – identified as Dipak Kumar Vaishnav, 24 and Mohammad Shaikh, 30 – were produced before a local magistrate court, following which they have been remanded to police custody till August 10 for further investigation.
The police said they had received a tip-off that elephant tusks were being brought into the city, near Ghatkopar railway station. Acting on the information, a team led by police sub-inspector Mahesh Shelar laid a trap. Police officials, along with a wildlife department personnel, were deployed in civil dress to nab the two suspects.
Upon intercepting the duo, the police found two tusks, one of a male elephant and the other of a female elephant, each valued at ₹10 lakh.
They were produced before a local magistrate court and remanded in police custody till August 10, for further investigation.
