Mumbai: The Thane crime branch on Sunday seized a leopard skin from two persons who had come from Madhya Pradesh (MP) to sell the same for Rs 10 lakh. The police referred the matter to the forest officials who inspected the item and confirmed that it was indeed leopard skin.
A team of crime branch unit I arrested Kismatlal Marabi (30) and Korcha Marabi (25), both labourers from Katni in MP. The officials received information on the carriers following which they laid a trap near Saket Complex on Saket Road in Thane (west) and apprehended the duo.
“The skin was rolled inside a maroon saree and kept inside their bags. When we found it, the skin was peeled, dried and hard so the opinion of forest officers was sought,” said a crime branch officer.
The police said the accused are suspected to be carriers who were sent to deliver the skin to somebody in Thane. The identity of the customer is yet to be ascertained, officials added.
