Pune: Two Arrested with Pangolin Scales and Sambar Antlers
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Manchar, 17th February 2026: In a significant crackdown on the illegal wildlife trade, the Manchar Forest Range (Junnar Division) arrested two individuals from the Raigad district and seized pangolin scales and Sambar deer antlers on February 16, 2026.
Acting on confidential intelligence regarding the smuggling of wildlife parts, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Vikas Bhosale and his team set a trap near Morade Foods Company in Manchar. The officials intercepted a blue Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire (MH 04 DY 3567) behind the Zatka Khanawal area.
Upon searching the vehicle, the forest department team recovered 3 kilograms of pangolin scales, 3 pangolin claws, and 4 Sambar deer antlers.
The two suspects taken into custody have been identified as:
Uday Shankar Surve (Resident of Shiste, Taluka Shrivardhan, District Raigad)
Naim Karim Khan (Resident of Vadvali, Taluka Shrivardhan, District Raigad)
The vehicle used for the crime was also seized by authorities. A case has been registered under Sections 9, 39, 48, and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The accused were produced before the Judicial Magistrate (First Class) at the Ghodegaon Court today, February 17, 2026. The court has subsequently granted them bail.
RFO Vikas Bhosale stated that the investigation is ongoing to identify other accomplices involved in the hunting and sale of these protected species.
The Forest Department issued a stern warning, noting that both the Pangolin and Sambar deer are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Hunting, trading, or transporting these animals is a non-bailable offense punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹25,000.
The operation was successfully executed under the guidance of Chief Conservator of Forests (Pune) Ashish Thakre and Deputy Conservator of Forests (Junnar) Prashant Khade. The team included Probationary DCF Lokesh Patil, ACF Amrut Shinde, RFO Vikas Bhosale, and forest personnel Rais Momin, Trimbak Jagtap, Shivaji Dhole, Pooja Pawar, and Chhakuli Shivsharan.
