Madhya Pradesh Special Tiger Strike Force has apprehended Battu alias Poonamlal, a notorious tiger poacher and key figure in an interstate wildlife trafficking network. He is suspected of involvement in numerous tiger killings and smuggling tiger parts to international markets via Northeast India. Poonamlal has been remanded in custody for seven days.
Prime accused Samarth Singh told investigators his wife, model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma, was distressed after an abortion and claimed he gave her Rs 7 lakh. He attempted to mislead police about his whereabouts post-death. His mother, a former judge, is also being questioned. The Supreme Court has directed the CBI to take over the probe.