In a significant blow to wildlife trafficking, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch arrested three individuals for their involvement in a ₹30-lakh illegal leopard skin deal, officials confirmed on Monday.
The prime accused, Rohit Mohapatra, is believed to be the mastermind behind the animal body part trading racket. The other two arrested individuals are students of a local educational institution, though their identities are yet to be confirmed.
The STF launched the operation after receiving a tip-off about a leopard skin being traded in Bhubaneswar’s Jayadev Vihar locality. Officers posed as potential buyers to infiltrate the deal before apprehending the suspects during the transaction.
According to investigators, the leopard skin was smuggled from Karnataka and brought to Odisha through a network of middlemen. Mohapatra allegedly obtained the skin from a hunter in Karnataka via Rourkela and intended to sell it to a wealthy buyer in the state capital.
The seized skin measures approximately 5 feet in length and 3 feet in width. It has been sent for forensic examination to verify authenticity.
Authorities believe the group may be linked to a larger interstate wildlife trafficking syndicate. The STF also recovered five mobile phones during the raid, which may provide crucial leads to uncover the broader network.
Interrogation of the suspects is underway, and more arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.
