Godown owners denied bail for stocking red sandalwood

PUNE: The district and sessions court, on Wednesday, rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of two proprietors of a godown at Waki village, Chakan, around 50 km from the city. The Pune rural police had found red sandalwood in two godowns in the area, on January 25.
The proprietors Dattatraya Santu Tope (32) and Kaliash Genubhau Tope (44) both from Waki Budruk, along with two others, were booked by the Pune rural police under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Forest Act.The police had seized 345 pieces of sandalwood from Tope's godown and an additional 558 pieces from the godown of Dattatraya Dhadpale and Genubhau Babanrao Tope, following a tip off.
Representing the godown owners, defence counsel Milind Pawar told the court that the custodial interrogation of his clients was not essential, as the police had sealed the godown containing sandalwood.
Pawar produced a leave and licence agreement before the court stating that the proprietors had rented the godown to Bharat Parekh Kane, around six months before the police action.
He said that Dattatraya Tope, who was sarpanch of Waki village, had leased out the godown to Kane, after his name was recommended by Shiroli village sarpanch, Ravindra Sawant. Sawant filed an affidavit in the court to show that he had introduced Kane to the Tope's. Pawar pleaded to release his clients on bail.
Opposing the bail pleas, additional public prosecutor, Chandrakiran Salvi, argued that custodial interrogation of the duo was essential, as the police suspect the involvement of an international gang, operating in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, allegedly exporting red sandalwood for medicinal purpose.
Salvi argued that Kane was not staying at the address mentioned in the leave and licence agreement. On verification from the regional transport office, the copy of his driving licence attached to the agreement was found to be forged. The prosecution filed a report, giving details of the investigations carried out by deputy superintendent of police B R Patil (Khed division) and pleaded to reject their bail pleas.
After hearing both sides, additional sessions judge, Suchitra Ghodke, rejected the bail pleas.