Wildlife trophy is any organ of a poached animal saved as a memento (Representational)

New Delhi:

A 60-year-old non-resident Indian was caught on the Delhi airport whereas trying to smuggle overseas a ‘wildlife trophy’, police stated on Friday.

Paljit Singh Paul Lalvani was about to board a US-bound flight on March 24 when he was intercepted by the safety personnel of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, they stated.

A wildlife trophy is any organ like a head or pores and skin of a poached animal saved as a memento.

The animal is presumed to be an antelope lined beneath Scheduled I and II of the Wildlife Protection Act, in response to the FIR accessed by PTI.

The Delhi Police registered an FIR towards Lalvani, a resident of New York within the US, on March 26 following a criticism filed by the Department of Forest and Wildlife.

The incident got here to gentle when Lalvani’s baggage was scanned on the airport and a suspicious merchandise was seen in one among his suitcases, the FIR stated. He was subsequently apprehended.

Lalvani was initially booked beneath the Customs Act, 1962, however the case was later given to the Wildlife Department by the obligation Justice of the Peace, Patiala House Court, with directions to register an FIR.

Lalvani was handed over to the Customs officers they usually booked him beneath related sections of the Customs Act, 1962.

“I am writing to bring to your attention a serious violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which occurred at Indira Gandhi International Airport on March 24,” learn the FIR filed by Rajesh Tandon, Deputy Range Officer, West Forest Division, Delhi.

“I urge you to kindly register an FIR against Paljit Singh Paul Lalvani, who was supposed to travel to the US,” it stated.

“The incident took place on March 24 when Lalvani was apprehended by DIAL (Airport Security) while attempting to transport the aforementioned wildlife trophy out of the country,” learn the FIR.

Lalvani was produced at Patiala House court docket and was granted bail beneath the Customs Acts. However, the obligation Justice of the Peace directed the Customs officers handy over the seized article to the Wildlife Department with additional course to intimate the Station House Officer (SHO) IGI police station for registration of FIR.

“This act is a clear violation of several sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, including but not limited to Sections 39, 40, 48A, 49, 49B, and 51. As per Section 39 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, possession and transport of trophies of scheduled species without proper authorisation are strictly prohibited,” learn the FIR.

The FIR additional said that beneath Section 40, any try and export such trophies with out requisite permits is punishable beneath the legislation.

A senior Delhi Police officer stated {that a} case beneath provisions 39, 49 and 51 of the Wild Animal Protection Act, 1972 has been registered and an additional probe has been initiated.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)