Elephant tusks worth Rs4 lakh seized near Dadar station

The Matunga police on Monday night arrested a 40-year-old man for possession of two elephant tusks concealed in a polythene bag outside Dadar railway station.

“The accused was identified as Ashok Maru, 40, a resident of Kurla. He was working as a sweeper in a private building in Byculla. The police seized two elephant tusks, collectively valued at Rs4 lakh, from him,” said senior police inspector Sunil Deshmukh of Matunga police station.

Deshmukh added that Maru, who was booked under various sections of the wildlife protection Act, was remanded in police custody till October 15 by the Kurla metropolitan magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

The Matunga police had received information that a person carrying elephant tusks would arrive outside the Dadar railway station (East) to meet a customer. Based on the information, API Srikant Ramdasi and staff laid a trap in the vicinity around 11pm, and nabbed Maru red-handed with the elephant tusks.

“We are conducting an inquiry into the matter, as to who he brought the tusks from and to whom he wanted to deliver in Mumbai,” said Deshmukh.

During his interrogation, Maru was asked from where he managed to get the tusks. He claimed that an Arab national used to live in the Byculla building where he works. It was in his home that he claimed to have found the tusks.

The police have rubbished his claims, adding that Maru has no previous criminal record.