Golfer Jyoti Randhawa arrested on poaching charges, rifle recovered

Golfer Jyoti Randhawa arrested on poaching charges in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich.

LUCKNOW: Veteran Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa was arrested Wednesday on poaching charges in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich. He reportedly killed a jungle fowl on Tuesday.

Randhawa's vehicle (HR26 DN 4299) was intercepted by authorities on suspicion near Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Motipur Range of Katerniaghat. Another person, identified as Mahesh Virajdar, was also arrested with Randhawa.

A .22 rifle was recovered from him at the time of arrest, reported news agency ANI. Apart from the rifle, pigskin, binoculars, three empty cartridges, 80 live cartridges, magazine, rangefinder, two mobile searchlight torches, Rs 36,600 cash was recovered from the vehicle.

Interrogation is currently underway. 

Randhawa owns a farm in the area and was seen in the nearby forest zones for the last three days, said officials.

Randhawa, an ace golfer, was ranked in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking several times between 2004 and 2009.

He was previously married to Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh. The couple divorced in April 2014.

Hunting wild animals is prohibited under Wildlife Protection Act.