Doctor accused of blackbuck poaching racket:Hunted on orders and supplied meat to wealthy clients in Bhopal and Mumbai at ₹12,000 per kilogram

A case of blackbuck poaching has been uncovered in the Rahatgarh forest range of Sagar district. Forest officials said poachers were killing blackbucks and sending their meat to cities like Bhopal and Mumbai, where it was served at private parties and hotels. During the investigation, officials found that a plate of blackbuck meat was sold for Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500, while one kilogram of meat fetched Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000. The hides, horns and teeth of the animals were also sold at different prices. Officials said some local residents were involved in the network. The arrested accused told investigators that they helped in poaching in return for meat and money. According to information, a hunter posing as a doctor was called from Bhopal to carry out the poaching. The investigation team has also found several suspicious mobile numbers and is checking their call details. Officials said they are trying to expose the full meat trafficking network by matching these numbers with call records of accused arrested earlier in poaching cases in Mhow and Bhopal. Now read the full case 10 kg meat recovered On the night of December 4, upon receiving information about suspicious activities in the Tehra-Tehri forest located in the Berkhedi beat of Rahatgarh Forest Range, the Forest Department team became alert. According to the informant, the team set up a blockade on the forest path and the personnel hid in the bushes, waiting for the suspicious vehicles to return. Around 3 AM, two cars were seen coming out of the forest. The team surrounded and stopped both vehicles. During the search, approximately 10 kg of blackbuck meat, its hide, teak wood, a .22 bore rifle, 15 live cartridges, and three empty casings were recovered from the cars. All three accused, who were in the vehicles, were taken into custody on the spot. During interrogation, they revealed their names as BHMS Doctor Wasim Khan, resident of Mandi Bamora (currently residing in Bhopal), Omkar Adivasi, resident of Tehra-Tehri, and Raju Adivasi, resident of Semramedha. The Forest Department registered a case against all three accused and arrested them. After preliminary interrogation, all were presented in court, from where they were sent to jail. Hunted with a licensed gun, first two shots missed
The main accused, Dr. Waseem Khan, reached Rahatgarh from Bhopal in his car for hunting. There, with the help of his associates, he entered the Tehra-Tehri forest. The incident is said to have occurred between 1 and 3 AM on the night of December 4. Upon seeing a blackbuck in the forest, Dr. Waseem fired two consecutive shots at it, but both missed, and the deer escaped. After this, the accused chased the deer and killed it with the third shot. After the hunt, the accused skinned the deer with the help of a sharp knife and a cleaver, cut the meat into pieces, and filled them into two sacks. The investigation revealed that Dr. Waseem had brought his licensed .22 bore rifle for hunting, which he had modified. To ensure accurate aim and make hunting easier at night, a torch and a telescope were also attached to the rifle. What was the role of each accused in the hunting?
In the blackbuck hunting case, the forest department has arrested three accused. Investigation revealed that each accused had a different role in the hunting. Accused Raju Adivasi provided his Bolero vehicle for the hunting and went into the forest as an accomplice with the hunter. Accused Omkar Adivasi monitored the deer before and during the hunt and was present at the scene throughout the incident. Meanwhile, the main accused, Dr. Waseem Khan, hunted the blackbuck by firing a gun. During the interrogation conducted during the remand, it also came to light that about two months ago, the accused Waseem had come to the Rahatgarh area. During that time, with the help of local accomplices, he had hunted about three rabbits. After the hunt, he took the meat with him. Only after successfully hunting in a safe manner did he return to the forests of Rahatgarh to hunt blackbucks again, where this time he was caught. Local people joined for the greed of meat and money, this is how the hunting network spread
Accused Raju Adivasi and Omkar Adivasi, arrested in the blackbuck hunting case, were associated with this network for the greed of meat and money. During the hunt, accused Raju took his Bolero vehicle, in which the main accused filled diesel worth 700 rupees. Accused Omkar also went along to assist in the hunting. In return, both were given the meat of the hunted wild animal, along with 500 to 1000 rupees for expenses. The investigation has revealed that this network, which demands wildlife meat, is spread from Rahatgarh in Sagar, through Bhopal, to Mumbai. If someone needed wildlife meat, they would call the mastermind living in the Rahatgarh area. The customer would specify the name of the wildlife according to their preference and place an order for the meat arrangement, in exchange for which an advance payment was taken. After receiving the order, the absconding mastermind would assign the task of monitoring the wildlife to local people who were well acquainted with the geographical conditions of the forest. These people would continuously monitor and trace the location of the wildlife. Along with this, some people kept an eye on every activity of the forest department. After the wildlife’s location was confirmed and the hunting spot was decided, the mastermind would call the hunter Dr. Waseem. Dr. Waseem would reach the forest between 1 and 3 AM, hunt, and leave with the meat within 1 to 1.5 hours. This meat was supplied to affluent parties and hotels in Mumbai, including Bhopal. Investigation team will scrutinize call details and tower locations
During the remand period, the STF gathered crucial information from the accused, including bank accounts and mobile numbers. However, no concrete clues have been found from the bank accounts so far. During the investigation, some mobile call numbers made at the time of the hunt have been identified, and their Call Detail Records (CDRs) are being scrutinized. The holders of these numbers are being identified. Additionally, the team suspects that more people were present at the scene during the hunt. From this angle, the tower locations of the relevant area are being retrieved. The Forest Department believes that this case is linked to organized wildlife crime, therefore, every point is being investigated thoroughly. According to forest department experts, some people are fond of eating blackbuck meat. Its demand is high in big cities and parties of the wealthy. It is estimated that after being cooked, blackbuck meat is sold for 2000 to 2500 rupees per plate, while the price of one kilogram of meat reaches 10 to 12 thousand rupees. Additionally, deer hide and other remains are also sold, which brings huge profits to the poachers and the gangs involved. They used to supply meat to Mumbai
Trainee IFS and investigating officer Jaiprakash said that the accused were interrogated during remand. The name of a mastermind has come to light, and raids are being conducted for his arrest. Upon his arrest, interrogation may reveal the network. Along with this, a case of blackbuck hunting is pending in the Indore High Court. In the said case too, blackbucks were hunted in the Rahatgarh forest. The accused used to supply meat to hotels in Mumbai. Therefore, investigation is also being done from this angle. Call details and other information of the accused are being retrieved. New revelations in the case may come soon.