Four men arrested while attempting to sell sand boa in Mumbai

Mumbai: In a significant wildlife crime bust, four individuals were arrested in Mumbai on Oct 7 for attempting to sell a sand boa, a rare snake species known as ‘mandul.' This snake is highly sought after for its alleged medicinal properties and to use in black magic rituals. The operation was carried out by the Cuffe Parade Police, with assistance from wildlife expert Ganesh Gaikwad, after they received a tip-off about the illegal sale near Maker Tower F, Cuffe Parade.According to official reports, Special Police Officer (SPO) Saponi Deokar, along with Sub Inspector Bhagwat and a team of enforcers, set up a trap in the area. Around 7:00 PM, a white car arrived, and three individuals stepped out while two others remained in the vehicle. Upon confirming the intent to sell the snake, the police team swiftly apprehended all five individuals.During the search of the vehicle, officers found three bags in the trunk. One of the bags contained the live sand boa, which measured 55 inches in length and weighed approximately 4.8 kg. Wildlife expert Ganesh Gaikwad confirmed the identity of the snake, which is a protected species. The mandul, a nocturnal wild animal, was valued at around ₹30 lakh in illegal markets.The arrested individuals were identified as Narasimha Satya Doti (40), Ravi Vasant Bhoir (54), Arvind Chaituram Gupta (26), and Shiva Mallesh Adepu (18). Upon questioning, the accused admitted they had no legal permits from the Chief Wildlife Warden to possess or sell the snake. They confessed that they intended to sell the snake for use in traditional medicine and black magic. Their advocate, Hitesh Patel, stated that their clients were falsely arrested and they had no intention to sell the snake.The police registered a case under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, including Sections 39(3)(A), 44, 48(A), and 51. The accused were taken into custody, and a general medical examination was conducted. Further investigations were underway to determine the origins of the snake and whether the group was part of a larger inter-state or international wildlife smuggling network.
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