A court in Saswad in Pune district on Saturday rejected the bail application of former Maharashtra minister Dharamarao Baba Atram and remanded him to magisterial custody after he was charged with killing of a Chinkara deer under the Wild Life Protection Act.
Earlier, Atram was arrested by Forest Department officials at Bhor in Pune district.
Atram surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Forest Department office on Thursday, meeting the deadline set by the Bombay High Court after it rejected his anticipatory bail plea.
He is the main accused in the case filed under the Protection of Wildlife Act.
Chinkara case: Manhunt launched for ex-minister
The arrest took place after two days of intensive interrogation of the Nationalist Congress Party leader, by forest officers led by Hanumant Dhumal.
Before he was taken into custody, Atram, who had earlier complained of ill health, was subjected to medical examination, Forest Department sources said.
The NCP legislator, hailing from Gadchiroli in Vidarbha, had resigned from the Cabinet after the June 14 poaching incident, which took place in the forest bordering Bhor and Baramati in the Western Maharashtra district. Baramati is the Lok Sabha constituency of NCP President Sharad Pawar.
Maharashtra minister resigns over chinkara killing
Atram has been charged with the killing of chinkara, an endangered species, along with his associates on the night of June 14 when he allegedly entered the forest in his ministerial car with red beacon.
Forest officials have already rounded up six persons allegedly involved in the crime.
After the arrest, Atram, who was followed by his supporters in vehicles, was taken by Forest Department officials to a court at neighbouring Saswad.
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