Poachers’ bail plea gets HC push

25-06-2009
Poachers' bail plea gets HC push
Times of India
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The kingpin of the lion poaching gang in Gir Sanctuary, Sarkaslal Parghi, who was convicted by a Junagadh court, has moved the Gujarat High Court seeking early hearing of his bail plea. The high court has also directed the lower court to expedite proceedings on his bail petition, while his appeal against the punishment of three-year jail is pending.

Three lions were killed on March 3, 2007 and three more slaughtered on March 29 in Babaria range falling under the Gir forest. State government and the forest department nabbed members of Parghi community from Madhya Pradesh in Amreli district. Sarkaslal was arrested from Una town in April 2007.

The accused were booked and sent to Junagadh jail. Their trial lasted 18 months and at the end of it, judge RK Makwana held them guilty and sentenced them to three years' rigorous imprisonment on October 23, 2008.

They filed an appeal against their conviction before a Junagadh sessions court, and during pendency of their appeal before the Junagadh district court they sought release from the jail by moving a bail plea.