GOVINDEGOWDA Vs. STATE BY RANGE FOREST OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Criminal Petition No. 8527/2018 has been filed by the accused No.1 under Section 439 of Cr.P.C., has been filed by accused No.3 under Section 438 of Cr.P.C., Criminal Petition No. 8415/2018 is filed by accused No.4 under Section 438 of Cr.P.C. to release them on bail and anticipatory bail respectively in FOC.No.22/2018 filed by the Range Forest Officer, Mobile Squad, Mysuru for the offence punishable under Section 2(16), 9, 39, 40, 43, 44, 48(a), 49, 49(a)(b), 51, 52, Schedule 1(39) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 read with Rule 3 of the Wildlife (Transaction and Taxidermy) Rule, 1973.

(2.) I have heard the learned counsel Sri. G.B.Sharath Gowda and Sri. B.Lathif for petitioners and Sri. K.P.Yoganna, learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent-State.

(3.) The gist of the complaint is that mobile squad of Range Forest Officer received a credible information and immediately on 02.10.2018 at about 10.45 P.M. they went near St. Joseph Central School at Yelawala and there they found four persons coming on two bikes in suspicious manner and carrying plastic bag. When, the said mobile squad was about to nab them, the said persons tried to flee away from the said place. However, the mobile squad was successful in nabbing the accused No.1-Govindegowda and other accused persons ran away from the said place. Then they verified the plastic bag which was with accused No.1 was containing skin of a tiger and on enquiry, the accused No.1 disclosed the names of three other persons and also revealed that they were trafficking the tiger skin in order to earn money.