The Delhi Police has nabbed a 44-year-old man in National Capital for allegedly smuggling red sandalwood logs, worth around Rs 50 lakh. Police said that the accused identified as Bhole Ram Kashyap, a resident of Subhash Park, had taken a godown on rent to keep the consignment in city.
Red sandalwood is one of the most valuable species of tree in Indian forestry and is valued for the rich red colour of its wood. It is an important export product that is traded illegally in the international market.
According to Rajesh Deo, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Crime Branch, on Thursday, police received information that Kashyap, who was involved in smuggling of red sandalwood logs, was operating from Garhi Mendu village in Delhi.
“Thereafter, a raid was conducted and the accused was apprehended. A total of 1797.05 kilogram of banned red sandalwood logs, worth around Rs 50 lakh, was recovered,” said the DCP.
“During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused used to procure red sandalwood logs from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan and Hyderabad. This was facilitated by one of his partners, who is a resident of Patna in Bihar,” said the DCP.
“The logs were then sold in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana. Further investigation is underway,” the DCP added.
