The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department is investigating a suspected interstate wildlife trafficking network after 30 protected turtles were seized from two men in Indore. Preliminary questioning has indicated possible links with Maharashtra and other states, prompting officials to expand the investigation beyond the seized animals to identify their suppliers, buyers and other people involved in the alleged trafficking chain.

The State Tiger Strike Force arrested Keshav Sharma, a resident of Musakhedi, and Rohan Gaur in connection with the alleged smuggling. After being produced before a court, the two were remanded to the Forest Department's custody until August 24. Investigators are now trying to establish where the turtles were sourced, how they were transported to Indore and who was supposed to receive them. Officials are also examining whether the two accused had been involved in the trade for a longer period or had only recently become part of the network.

Suspected Supply Chain

According to the preliminary investigation, the two accused allegedly had separate roles in the operation. Keshav was responsible for contacting prospective customers and negotiating turtle deals, while Rohan allegedly handled deliveries to buyers. Investigators are now examining the contacts stored on their mobile phones, call records and other digital evidence to identify people operating behind them. Officials suspect that the wider network could include people involved in catching turtles, transporting them between locations, arranging supplies and delivering them to customers.

The investigation has widened after officials found indications of connections with Maharashtra and potentially other states. The Forest Department is seeking to establish whether the seized turtles were sourced locally or brought into Madhya Pradesh from another region. The agency is also looking into the alleged demand for these species beyond Indore, including claims that they are sought in international markets. Any interstate or international links will need to be established through further investigation.

Three Protected Species Seized

The operation led to the recovery of 30 turtles belonging to three species. Officials seized 14 Indian Star Tortoises, 10 Indian Roofed Turtles and six Spotted Pond Turtles, along with three mobile phones. According to the Forest Department, the recovered wildlife is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The seizure has raised concerns because protected turtle and tortoise species are targeted in illegal wildlife trade for various reasons, making the identification of the entire supply chain important for investigators. The Forest Department is expected to use the evidence recovered from the accused and their digital devices to trace the source of the animals and identify potential buyers. The remand period until August 24 will allow investigators to question the accused further and examine the suspected Maharashtra connection.

If the links identified during questioning are corroborated, the investigation could lead to more arrests and reveal a wider interstate network involved in the alleged trafficking of protected turtles.

According to reports, the actor submitted details of the items as part of the state's declaration process related to wildlife possessions. The collection reportedly includes religious sculptures depicting deities such as Lord Krishna, Lord Rama and Tirupati Balaji, along with several elephant tusks. The total weight of the declared ivory artefacts is estimated to be around 46 kilograms.

The development comes against the backdrop of a case dating back to 2011, when authorities first discovered elephant tusks and ivory items at Mohanlal’s residence in Kochi.

Forest officials said the actor had previously disclosed possession of four elephant tusks. The latest declaration includes six additional tusks and 13 ivory-based artefacts, prompting officials to undertake a fresh examination of the collection. Authorities are also considering scientific verification, including DNA testing, to establish the origin and authenticity of the items.

Mohanlal has maintained that the objects were either inherited or received as gifts and were not acquired through illegal means.

The controversy began during an Income Tax Department search operation at the actor’s residence in the Thevara area of Kochi in 2011. While the raid was reportedly focused on financial documents and related records, officials came across elephant tusks and ivory artefacts displayed inside the house.

Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, possession of elephant ivory is heavily regulated, and ownership requires compliance with specific legal provisions and declarations. Following the discovery, forest authorities seized the items and initiated legal proceedings.

At the time, Mohanlal stated that the tusks belonged to a domesticated elephant that had died of natural causes. He argued that the tusks had been retained as memorabilia and claimed he was unaware of the legal requirements governing possession of such items.

Subsequent developments saw the Kerala government grant him permission to formally declare the tusks. In 2016, the actor was issued an ownership certificate, a move that later became the subject of legal challenges.

Over the years, the case has moved through multiple legal forums. Mohanlal challenged proceedings initiated by a lower court before the Kerala High Court and obtained interim relief for an extended period. He also sought withdrawal of the case through representations to the state government, but those requests were ultimately rejected.

A major turn came in 2025 when the Kerala High Court reportedly examined petitions filed by retired forest officials and wildlife conservation activists. During the proceedings, the court held that the ownership certificate granted to the actor was not legally sustainable and declared it invalid.

However, the court stopped short of directing criminal prosecution against the actor. The ruling nevertheless reopened questions regarding the status and origin of the ivory items linked to the case.

The latest declaration before the Forest Department is expected to become part of the ongoing verification process. Officials are now examining the newly disclosed items and assessing whether further investigation is required under wildlife protection laws.

The case has attracted significant public attention due to Mohanlal’s stature in the Indian film industry and the broader concerns surrounding wildlife conservation and illegal ivory possession. Conservation groups have long argued that strict enforcement of wildlife laws is necessary to discourage the trade and possession of protected animal products.

For now, the Forest Department is expected to continue its scrutiny of the declared artefacts while determining the next legal and procedural steps. Further action will likely depend on the outcome of scientific examinations and the findings of wildlife authorities.

A shocking case of tiger poaching has surfaced in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district, where a forest department watchman and members of his family have come under investigation for their alleged involvement in the death and concealment of a tiger inside the Sarbhanga forest. Acting on a tip-off, forest officials exhumed the animal’s remains nearly two months after its death and have detained three suspects as the investigation gathers pace.

The incident came to light in the Sarbhanga forest under the Majhgawan Forest Range, where authorities suspect the tiger died after coming into contact with an illegal electrified wire laid to trap wild boars. Officials believe the accused buried the carcass inside the forest to hide evidence of the incident.

According to forest department officials, they received confidential information about five days ago indicating that a tiger had been killed in the forest and secretly buried. Following the tip-off, the department activated its intelligence network and launched a discreet investigation to verify the claims and identify the suspected burial site.

A large-scale search operation was carried out on Thursday with the assistance of a dog squad, flying squad personnel and officials led by Range Officer Ranjan Singh Parihar. However, heavy rainfall, dense vegetation and the lack of an exact location initially prevented the team from locating the remains.

The breakthrough came later that night when another intelligence input pointed to the alleged involvement of Minnata Singh Gond, a forest watchman posted in the Sarbhanga area. He was taken into custody for questioning on Friday in the presence of senior forest officials, including Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Abhishek Tiwari.

During interrogation, officials said the suspect disclosed that around two months ago, an electric wire had been illegally installed in the forest to hunt wild boars. A tiger reportedly came into contact with the live wire and died from electrocution. Fearing legal consequences, those involved allegedly buried the animal's body in a nearby pit inside the forest.

Based on the suspect's statement, forest officials reached Compartment PF-820 in Beat Kararia, where excavation was carried out. The team recovered skeletal remains and other body parts believed to belong to the tiger. Since nearly two months had elapsed since the animal’s death, the remains were found in an advanced state of decomposition.

The recovered remains were shifted to the Sarbhanga Forest Rest House due to adverse weather conditions. Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Nitin Gupta and a team from Mukundpur Zoo later examined the remains and collected samples for scientific analysis and forensic investigation.

Following the examination, the tiger’s remains were cremated in accordance with wildlife protocols in the presence of senior forest officials, including Conservator of Forests Anurag Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer Mayank Chandiwal, Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Abhishek Tiwari, Tehsildar Himanshu Shukla, and other department personnel.

Forest officials said two additional suspects have also been taken into custody based on the ongoing investigation, while several other alleged accomplices are still absconding. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the remaining suspects.

Authorities have stated that a detailed investigation is continuing and that all individuals found involved in the poaching incident will face stringent action under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Officials are also examining whether the illegal electric trap was part of a larger pattern of wildlife hunting in the region.

The incident has once again highlighted the threat posed by illegal electrocution traps in forest areas, raising concerns over wildlife protection and the role of individuals entrusted with safeguarding protected habitats.