Trophy-hunting syndicate of the rich & influential exposed

BHOPAL: What began as a wildlife meat seizure of blackbuck and sambar in Madhya Pradesh has exploded into one of India's most chilling wildlife crime investigations - a sprawling probe that has unearthed an alleged trophy-hunting syndicate operating across nine districts, linked to affluent clients, rifle-club insiders and even cross-border hunting circles.

Nearly a year after three Mumbai-based youths were arrested, forensic specialists have cracked encrypted mobile data from seized phones, uncovering a cache of videos, GPS logs and chat records th-at laid bare a covert commercial game-hunting racket posing as "sports gatherings". A total of 60 kills of blackbuck, chinkara and sambar have been established between 2022 and 2024. The operation, investigators say, turned protected forests into private killing grounds for the wealthy.

Moreover, the case has now drawn the attention of the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan, which holds blackbucks sacred. The community has filed an intervening application (IA) before MP high court's Indore bench, opposing the bail plea of one of the suspects, Salman Piyarji of Mumbai. The IA will come up for a special hearing on Tuesday.

This massive antelope poaching was reportedly modelled on southern Africa-style game hunts , where wealthy participants pay to track and shoot animals for trophies or meat. Investigators said those involved had studied and replicated safari-hunting formats - complete with preselected "targets", night chases, and trophy photo sessions in the forests of central India.

Among the decrypted files is a video purportedly showing a blackbuck being shot, then its throat being slit with a knife to drain its blood as it gasps for air. Recorded under torchlight, the footage is one of several videos showing alleged night hunts carried out by the syndicate. There are many more.

Sharad Jatav, spokesperson for State Tiger Strike Force (STSF), told TOI that the forensic data has "opened a Pandora's box". "They mainly targeted ma-les, be it blackbuck, chinkara, chital or sambar. We have matched the videos with the mobile-location data of the suspects," Jatav said.

He said males were targeted because their horns were taken as trophies. "Whether these outsiders were being charged by the Bhopal-based group facilitating these hunts or if it was purely for sport is still under investigation. Key local suspects are yet to be arrested. Their questioning will reveal more. The rifles have been sent for a ballistic examination," he said.

Jatav said the group first met during a religious gathering in Bhopal, and "it is possible that more game hunters from other states travelled to Madhya Pradesh for similar expeditions".

Investigations also revealed that two members of the alleged syndicate had travelled to southern African countries to practise hunting legally for trophies and meat from antelopes.

The decrypted data indicates that between 2022 and December 2024, the network orchestrated hunts that killed more than 60 protected animals across Narmadapuram, Rajgarh, Sehore, Shajapur, Raisen, Vidisha, and parts of Bhopal, Ujjain, and Indore divisions. These alleged hunts were marketed to clients as exclusive "wildlife sport experiences".

The case first came to light in Dec 2024, when STSF, Indore forest department, and local police arrested three alleged poachers - Johar Sain, Iyaz, and Salman Piyarji - at Kishanganj forest range in Indore district. Officers seized 65kg of suspected wildlife meat, a country-made pistol, three live cartridges, and an SUV with a Maharashtra registration allegedly used for transporting carcasses. After months of forensic analysis, the fourth arrest was made on Oct 24 this year when Sabah (45), son of Salasin, was picked up from Mitra Nagar, Jogeri, Mumbai.

Investigators are examining possible links between the alleged hunters and certain rifle club members suspected of supplying weapons, ammunition, and logistical support. Some are believed to have helped identify forest-edge hunting zones for the gr-oup. "The evidence confirms a commercial operation masquerading as sport. More arrests are expected in Maharashtra and Rajasthan," a senior investigator said.