**CBI Arrests Alleged Sandalwood Smuggler from Haryana**
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an alleged sandalwood smuggler from Bahadurgarh, Haryana, officials confirmed on Friday.
The absconding accused, Rajkumar Sharma, was wanted in connection with a case involving the smuggling of 15,350.55 kgs of sandalwood from the Dhamnod Forest Range in Madhya Pradesh.
The CBI registered the case on August 20, 2024, under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The case pertains to the smuggling of sandalwood in 504 pieces. Following the registration, the investigation was launched promptly.
During the probe, the CBI identified six accused individuals: Bakthavatchalam, B. Balamurgan, Thamim Ansari, Shiv Kumar, Rajkumar Sharma, and Ishwar Chander Sharma. On December 20, 2024, the agency filed its chargesheet against all six before the court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Dharampuri, District Dhar, Madhya Pradesh.
The court subsequently issued arrest warrants against the accused, all of whom were absconding. Acting on specific information, the CBI apprehended Rajkumar Sharma on Wednesday in Bahadurgarh, Haryana, based on a Non-Bailable Warrant issued by the court.
Rajkumar Sharma will be produced on transit remand before the court, officials added. Further investigations and efforts to apprehend the remaining accused are ongoing.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/madhya-pradesh-cbi-arrests-smuggler-of-dhamnod-forest-ranges-sandalwood
