New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on July 3 night arrested Tehelka reporter Kumar Badal in connection with the case of poaching of endangered leopards after he allegedly "did not co-operate" with the agency sleuths during interrogation.

CBI spokesman S M Khan told reporters that Badal was arrested as he had not co- operated with the agency during the questioning on shooting down of three leopards at the Shivalik forests in Uttar Pradesh.

Khan said he would be produced before the designated court at Saharanpur where the agency would seek his custody for a detailed inquiry into the case.

Asked to specify about the "non-co-operation", the CBI spokesman said, "There is nothing to add. He (Badal) has been stone-walling all information about the case after which the investigating officer decided to place him under arrest."

Earlier, Badal appeared before the CBI and was grilled by the wild life unit of the agency for nearly eight hours.

The case pertained to killing of three leopards in Biharigarh area of Shivalik division in Uttar Pradesh under Sections 9, 49, 49-A and 51 of the Wild Life Act of 1972 and 120-B (criminal conspiracy).

CBI had also managed to take a handwritten sample of Badal, as the agency claimed that he had signed at some hotels during his stay at Saharanpur.

PTI