Man gets three-year jail for possessing leopard skin

New Delhi: A Delhi court has upheld a three- year jail term awarded to a man for possessing a leopard skin here saying he was not entitled to be released on probation.

Special judge J P S Malik said Bharat Singh Negi was awarded the minimum sentence prescribed for the offence under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act.

"Possession of the leopard skin with the appellant (Negi) on June 14, 2004 near Mandolia Chowk, Kamla Nagar, Delhi at about 7.35 PM stands proved beyond reasonable doubt," the court said.

"Leopard or Panther (Panthera pardus skin) find mention in entry no. 16B of Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and once the contravention of Section 49 (purchase of captive animal, etc., by a person other than a licensee) of the Act is proved, the appellant is liable to be punished with minimum sentence of three years...

"Vide impugned order on sentence dated August 22, 2014, the appellant (Negi) has been sentenced to simple imprisonment for three years and a fine of Rs 10,000, which is the minimum sentence attracted to the contravention of Section 49 of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972," the judge said.

The court said he has already been given the minimum jail term under the provision for which Negi has been convicted and he was not entitled to be given the benefit of Probation of Offenders Act or to be enlarged on probation.

It dismissed Noida resident Negi's appeal and directed him to surrender before the trial court concerned.

Negi had filed the appeal challenging his conviction and sentence awarded by the magisterial court.

According to the complaint filed by Delhi government's Wild Life?Department, a leopard skin was recovered from Negi's possession on June 14, 2004 in Kamla Nagar area when police officials were on patrolling.

Intimation was given to the wildlife department after which the officials reached the spot and identified the skin to be of a leopard, it said.