New Delhi, September 15: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea filed by Wildlife SOS co-founder and CEO Kartick Satyanarayan challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s decision to withdraw interim protection from arrest in an alleged leopard poaching case.
Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. He sought protection for Satyanarayan as he joins the investigation being conducted by the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (STSF).
Dave told the bench that Wildlife SOS, an organisation involved in anti-poaching activities, had assisted authorities in recovering leopard skins in Uttar Pradesh, following which Satyanarayan was implicated in the case by Madhya Pradesh authorities.
He submitted that Satyanarayan was ready to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating agency, but sought protection from arrest.
“We led to the recovery of the skins. The recovery was in Uttar Pradesh, and the matter was thereafter taken up in Madhya Pradesh. We are willing to cooperate and appear before the authorities, but we need protection,” Dave submitted.
The bench agreed to list the plea for hearing during the week.
“It will be listed,” the bench said.
The case relates to an investigation by the Madhya Pradesh STSF into alleged leopard poaching following the recovery of leopard skins in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
The Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court had recently dismissed two petitions filed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and withdrew the interim protection from arrest granted to Satyanarayan. The High Court cited alleged non-cooperation with the investigation and directed him to appear before the STSF on September 21.
The Madhya Pradesh government has alleged that Satyanarayan did not cooperate with the probe, withheld information regarding a third summons and an arrest warrant issued against him, and failed to join the investigation into the alleged poaching of 10 leopards in Sheopur and Morena districts.
The State has also described Satyanarayan as “absconding”, a claim disputed by Wildlife SOS.
The organisation has maintained that seeking legal protection does not amount to refusal to cooperate with the investigation. It has reiterated that Satyanarayan is willing to appear before the authorities and participate in the probe.
