Fake tiger nails seized, accused likely to walk free

Chandrapur: Wildlife activists caught a man who was trying to sell tiger nails in Mul and handed him over to the forest department. Investigations, however, revealed that the accused, Godimpur Singh, was a con and the stock of nails and paw seized from him was counterfeit. With forest officials confused over offence to charge him with, it is likely that Singh might walk free soon.Senior wildlife activist Umesh Jhire, with the help of his associates nabbed Singh, a Hyderabad resident. “A local trader informed me about a person roaming seeking customers for tiger nails. I gathered other fellow activists and rounded him up. Singh was later handed over to Chichpalli forest range, where he was interrogated and his booty of nails and paw was examined for authenticity,” Jhire told TOI.
RFO, Chichpalli, AV Gedam said that the nails and paw seized from the accused turned out to be counterfeit. Singh had skilfully carved the nails with the help of moulded plastic. He had joined this fake nail with hoof appendages of a goat and pasted it with bull’s skin to make it look like original. A total of eight counterfeit nails and a paw were seized from him, he said.
Forest team later raided Singh’s tent in Chandrapur and seized several fake nails made of plastic, bounding material, pieces of bull skin, bones and appendages of goat and yellow colour used for making and dyeing counterfeit items. Trickster like Singh offer these fake nails for Rs3,000-4,000 a piece to customers. After bargains, they even sell them for Rs300. Even if customers later come to know about the counterfeit nails, they do not file a complaint for such a paltry amount, experts said.
RFO Gedam said that the department is not going to charge the suspect Singh with any criminal offence.