MOHAMMED MUSHTAQ HUSSAIN QURESHI Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present Writ Petition is filed to declare the action of the respondents in seeking to arrest the petitioner, who is arrayed as accused No.3 in ROR No.09-5 of 2017 in OR No.19/C of 2019-20 on the file of Hyderabad East Range, Hyderabad, for the alleged offences under Section 9 read with Section 2(16), 39, 49, 50, 57 and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, which is bailable offence, as being illegal, arbitrary with consequential direction to the respondents not to arrest the petitioner in the above crime.

(2.) Heard Sri S. Ganesh, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Smt. Pramada Reddy, learned Government Pleader for Forests.

(3.) Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the respondent authorities have registered a case against one Saleh Bin Mohammed Badam and Ali Bin Mohammed under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, alleging that A-1 was in illegal possession of Slow Loris (live animal), Indian Star Tortoise (live animal) and Soft Shell Turtle (live animal) and that A-1 and A-2 are doing business in Wild Life animals. It is upon the arrest of A-1 and A-2, who were initially absconding and on being apprehended, A-2 confessed that he is working for one Mohd. Mustaq Hussain Qureshi, the petitioner herein, whereupon, the respondent authorities have included the name of the petitioner, as A-3 in the above crime. It is claimed by the learned Counsel for the petitioner that the name of A-3 was added only based on the confession made by A-2 and also that the live animals having recovered from the residence of A-1, the petitioner cannot be implicated in the case and the authorities cannot seek to arrest the petitioner.