New Delhi, July 08: Four men have been arrested here for trying to sell an elephant tusk weighing six kg and worth around Rs.12 lakh, police said Thursday.
They were apprehended near Raj Ghat in central Delhi Wednesday following a tip off. The accused have been identified as Dinesh Gupta, 38, Mahender Singh, 38, Brahm Singh, 56, and Rashid Malik 21, a senior police officer said.
"Officers of the wild life department were called to the spot who inspected the seized material and opined that it was a tusk used for preparing medicines, ornaments and decorative items," the officer added.
The possession and sale of elephant tusks is prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
During interrogation, Gupta told police that he came in contact with Mahender Singh and Malik who lured him into the business of sale and purchase of elephant tusks.
He said they used to purchase elephant tusks from a place in Uttar Pradesh on a cheaper price and sell it in cities on a higher price, police said.
"They contacted Brahm Singh for using his car and purchased an elephant tusk weighing 6 kg from a man identified as Babloo for Rs. 2.5 lakh. They were in search of a buyer for selling the elephant tusk at a rate of Rs.2 lakh per kg but were apprehended," police said.
Gupta runs an electrical goods shop while Mahender Singh and Malik are scrap dealers from Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district. Brahm Singh is a property dealer in Ghaziabad, police said.
--Agencies
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