1st July 2005

Notorious wildlife trader Sansar Chand was produced before Mr. Manoj Jain, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of the Tis Hazari Court at 12.30 pm on 1st July'2005.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) applied for police custody in all the new wild life matters handed over to them by the Central Govt. Despite strong opposition by the defense lawyers Mr. Anil Sehgal and Mr. Pramod Dubey, the Court granted police custody of Sansar Chand to the CBI, and ordered that he be produced again on 11th July'2005. However, the CBI stated that since Sansar would have to be taken to more than 4 states across India, a police remand of less than 10 days was insufficient time.

The court also took Sansar in judicial custody for the five wild life cases pending against him in Tis Hazari.

The Rajasthan police was represented by Sub-Inspector from Manak Chowk Police Station, Jaipur, where a seizure of leopard paws and claws took place in October 2004. The court asked the Rajasthan Police to re-apply once the CBI was through with Sansar.

Advocate Sudhir Mishra from The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) actively assisted CBI counsel Rajan Dahia and the Delhi Forest & Wildlife Deptt. during the court proceedings.