Pune Forest Department Cracks Down On Alexandrine Parakeet Smuggling; Two Arrested
Pune Forest Department Cracks Down On Alexandrine Parakeet Smuggling; Two Arrested
Pune, February 11, 2025: Acting on a tip-off about illegal trading of Alexandrine Parakeets near Pune Railway Station, the Pune Forest Department, with the assistance of the Customs Department, conducted a raid on February 5, 2025. During the operation, officials detained Sheikh Sarfaraz Sheikh Khadir.
Following an inquiry, he was found guilty under Sections 2, 39, 48(A), 49, 50, and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, leading to his arrest. He was produced before the First-Class Judicial Magistrate, Lashkar Court, Pune, which granted three days of forest custody.
Further investigations revealed the involvement of Sachin Sujit Rozoria. On February 9, 2025, the Pune Forest Department set a trap at Sangvi Phata and apprehended him. Upon interrogation, his role in the smuggling operation was confirmed, resulting in his arrest. He was presented before the Special Court at Shivajinagar, which sentenced both accused to one-day forest custody.
On February 10, 2025, both suspects were produced before the Lashkar Court again, which ordered judicial custody until February 21, 2025. Consequently, Sheikh Sarfaraz Sheikh Khadir and Sachin Sujit Rozoria have been sent to Yerwada Central Jail.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Assistant Forest Conservator Mangesh Tate and led by Range Forest Officer Suresh Vark. Officers Vaibhav Babar, Pramod Raskar, and forest guards Kaluram Kad, Anil Rathod, Madhukar Godge, Omkar Gund, Vinayak Tathe, and Ramesh Shinde played key roles in the action.
The Forest Department urges citizens to report any illegal wildlife trade or related suspicious activities.
