Delhi Police arrested a man for allegedly attempting to sell an uncured leopard skin, estimated to be worth around Rs five lakh, from near a petrol pump in Karnal by-pass area, police said today.
The accused identified as Sher Singh Chauhan (40) is a resident of Rampur in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh.
The Anti Auto-Theft Squad (AATS) of Delhi Police had received a tip off that the accused will be coming to sell the leopard skin at the service station road near CNG Pump at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar.
"The Leopard skin was identified by wildlife officials, who were part of the raid. The possession, selling or buying of the Leopard skin is prohibited vide Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
"Chauhan was not able to produce any valid permission from a competent authority for the possession of the animal skin and was arrested and an FIR was registered against him," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer District) Vikramjit Singh said.
During interrogation, it was revealed that Chauhan had purchased the leopard skin from an acquaintance who lived near his village around two months back.
The latter was looking for a buyer and asked Singh to find a buyer for the skin.
Chauhan purchased the leopard skin after paying a partial amount and promised to pay the remaining amount later. '
He had come to Delhi two-three days back to sell the skin to a buyer, said Singh.
