Sandalwood smuggling gang busted, 45cr wood seized

Indore: In a major crackdown, Mandsaur police station in Mandsaur district arrested two members of an interstate red sandalwood smuggling racket and seized 2,260 kilogram of red sandalwood, valued at around Rs 4.5 crore in the international market. Mandsaur SP Abhishek Anand said that acting on a tip-off, a team intercepted a tractor during vehicle checking on July 16. On searching the vehicle, the team recovered 180 bundles of red sandalwood weighing 2,260 kg being transported illegally.The arrested accused have been identified as Yatindra Rathore (34), son of Vishnulal Rathore of Dalpatpura, and Ajay (19), son of Shyamlal, a resident of the same village under Jeeran police station limits. A third accused, Rajendra alias Raju Bhai alias Salim Bhai, son of Saligram Patidar, a resident of Gogaripura, is currently absconding. A case has been registered under sections 303(2), 317(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), sections 21 and 22 of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Produce (Trade) Regulation Act, 2000, and sections 26, 33, and 42 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.Police officials noted that the smugglers were inspired by scenes from films and planned the trafficking accordingly. Authorities highlighted that red sandalwood, also known as ‘rakta chandan' (blood sandalwood), is a rare and protected species found primarily in the Seshachalam, Veligonda, Lankamala, and Palkonda ranges of the southeastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. Its illegal trade remains a serious concern due to high demand and restricted habitat.