Actor Darshan, MP Jaggesh under scanner after complaints of possession of wildlife articles
Bengaluru (PTI): A team of senior officials from Karnataka Forest Department would be visiting various places to probe if celebrities and others against whom complaints have been received are in possession of Wildlife articles, officials said on Wednesday.
Action will be initiated against them under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 if they are found in possession of such articles, they said.
Karnataka Environment and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said the law of the land is applicable to all without any discrimination and the government will act as per the law.
The Forest Department's move comes days after contestant of Bigg Boss Kannada reality show Varthur Santosh was arrested from the set on Sunday for allegedly wearing a tiger claw pendant. He was later sent to 14 days judicial custody.
Following his arrest, social media was flooded with photos of Kannada film actor Darshan, actor-turned-politician and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Jaggesh, and JDS leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy purportedly wearing such pendants. This prompted several organisations to officially write to the forest department seeking action against them.
Actor-politician and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy clarified that the tiger claw pendant that he was seen wearing was fake.
“It has been reported in some media that Nikhil Kumaraswamy wore a Tiger claw pendant during his marriage. This is far from the truth. I am certainly aware of the seriousness of the Wildlife Protection Act. The Tiger claw pendant I was wearing was fake, not real. It was given as a gift for my marriage. I still have it. Concerned authorities can verify. Please request no one to spread news which is
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Kumar Pushkar said the department has received formal complaint against Darshan, leading producer Rockline Venkatesh, actor-turned-politician and Jaggesh, Venkateshwara Swamy in Kunigal and Vinay Guruji in Chikkamagaluru among others.
“We are verifying all these cases which have come to our notice through the media and several organisations which were received by us this morning. So, we are verifying each and every one of them and we will take action as per the Wildlife Protection Act wherever we find that the person actually possesses such wildlife articles,” he told PTI.
Asked if they would be questioned, the officer said, “We are taking all kinds of action. Our senior officers are heading the team. They would be visiting all these places and verifying the facts.”
Meanwhile, the Forest Minister noted that under the Wildlife Protection Act which came into effect in 1972, no animal parts should be traded -- be it tiger tooth, its pelt, claws, deer skin, horns, or the elephant tusks. There is no scope for using, storing, or transporting these wildlife materials anywhere.
“If at all anyone has done it, then it is a punishable crime. For this reason, the department will investigate the complaints about some people sporting the tiger claws, teeth or pelts and start legal proceedings against them.
“Law of the land is equal to everyone. No one is above law. Government will initiate action as per the law. I do not have the complete information. Whoever gives complaints will be looked into,” Kharndre told reporters in the district headquarters town of Kalaburagi.
Citing the Wildlife Protection Act-1972, the Minister said that no one is supposed to use these wildlife animal products.
“Today the case has come to light about the use of these materials by some individuals. Everyone should be aware of these laws and it is our primary responsibility to protect the ecology and wildlife,” he said.
Declining to name the individuals, the minister said the law of the land is applicable to all without any discrimination. He stressed that no one is above law.
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NADA suspends Bajrang Punia for four years for violation of anti-doping code
New Delhi, Nov 26: The National Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday suspended Bajrang Punia for four years for his refusal to provide his sample for dope test on March 10 during selection trials for the national team.
NADA had first suspended the Tokyo Games bronze medallist wrestler on April 23 for the offence following which, the World Governing body UWW had also suspended him.
Bajrang had appealed against the provisional suspension and NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Doping panel (ADDP) had revoked it on May 31 till NADA issues the notice of charge.
NADA, then on June 23 served the notice to the wrestler.
Bajrang, who joined Congress along with fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat and was given charge of All India Kisan Congress, had challenged the charge on July 11 in a written submission following which hearings were held on September 20 and October 4.
"The Panel holds that the Athlete is liable for sanctions under Article 10.3.1 and liable for ineligibility for a period of 4 years," the ADDP said in its order.
The suspension means that Bajrang will not be able to return to competitive wrestling and apply for a coaching job abroad, if he aspires to.
"In the present case, since the Athlete had been provisionally suspended, the Panel accordingly holds that the Athlete’s period of his ineligibility for the period of 4 years shall commence from the date on which the notification was sent, i.e., 23.04.2024.
"Needless to say that on account of the lifting of the provisional suspension for the period from 31.05.2024 to 21.06.2024 shall not be credited into the total period of ineligibility of four years."
Bajrang has maintained since the beginning that he was given extremely prejudicial and unfair treatment with respect to doping control because of his involvement in the protest against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Bajrang also maintained that he never refused to give sample but only demanded to know NADA’s response to his email where he sought answer why expired kits were sent to take his samples in December 2023.
NADA also explained the reason for its action, saying that the Chaperone/DCO had duly approached him and informed that he was required to provide a urine sample for dope analysis purposes.
Bajrang in his written submission said that the conduct of NADA in two previous instances had created mistrust in the athlete's mind, especially with NADA failing to acknowledge or even respond to their callous approach towards the doping control process in both such instances, the failure to take responsibility for their action pertaining to their dispersal of duties meant that the athlete was morally bound to take a stance in resort as a senior athlete who holds a voice in the sporting community.
Bajrang also said "it was not an outright refusal per se. The athlete was always willing to provide his sample provided that he first received a response from NADA concerning the use of expired kits."
However NADA said, "the outright refusal by the athlete to provide urine sample for the dope test was intentional and deliberate" and that "Athlete has demonstrated utter disregard towards his duties and responsibilities as per Articles 20.1 & 20.2 of the Anti Doping Rules, 2021."
