In what was supposed to be a raid on illegally accumulated wealth, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Saturday found quintal of nilgai meat, animal skin, ivory and guns at the residence of a retired army officer here.
The 17-hour-long joint raid conducted by the DRI and the forest department unearthed at least Rs 1 crore in cash and 40 guns besides 117 kg nilgai meat, skin of exotic animals, ivory and a few other items, possession of which is illegal.
A team of DRI officials reached the Civil Lines residence of Colonel (retd) Devindra Kumar yesterday in the afternoon and the raid continued till 3:30 AM.
Kumar's son Prashant Bishnoi is a national-level shooter.
A DRI official said the raid was conducted in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
117 kg meat of nilgai, Rs 1 crore in cash, 40 guns, five skulls of deer, horns of sambar deer, antlers of antelope and black buck, animal skin and ivory were seized from a makeshift warehouse in Kumar's residence.
Chief Conservator of Forests Mukesh Kumar said: "The meat of blue bull was seized from a refrigerator. A sample was taken and it will be sent to laboratory for testing."
Action will be taken against the retired army officer and Bishnoi under relevant provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 though no case has been registered against them yet, he said.
“The raid was done in the morning and foreign arms, rifles and pistols were recovered. Licenses of arms were not found. At the same time the team interrogated the Retired Colonel and asked about his national level shooter son Prashant Bishnoi, who is absconding but he did not tell the police,” Senior Intelligence Officer Manoj Kumar was quoted as saying by ANI.
No arrest has been made in this case yet as Prashant Bishnoi fled from the scene before the police team arrived at the residence. Kumar did not divulge details about the whereabouts of his son in hours of questioning by the police.
Raids were also been conducted at four other places across Delhi-NCR where 145 guns have been recovered. The raids were conducted at - the residence of a gun house owner in Shalimar Garden, Delhi, Prashant Bishnoi's house in Gurgaon, IGI airport and one another location belonging to an accused Amit Goyal.
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