Friday, June 10 2005 19:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jhajjar (Haryana): With former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and his six other accomplices failing to turn up before police by the deadline fixed by it, Haryana Police today (Jun 10, 2005) constituted teams to arrest them in connection with the alleged poaching of an endangered black buck.

Police had constituted three teams, which will raid possible hideouts of the accused in Delhi, Gurgaon and Aurangpur village, Superintendent of Police Hanief Qureshi said.

He said in this case police did not require any arrest warrant. Haryana Police had fixed June 10 as the deadline for the accused, including Pataudi to surrender.

Sources said that Pataudi was expected to move the environment court at Faridabad tomorrow or on Monday. "Pataudi was to move the court in Jhajjar yesterday. However, after dismissal of anticipatory bail plea of Shashi Singh (one of the alleged accused in poaching case) the former captain decided otherwise," one of his counsel, said in Jhajjar. He said Singh was also expected to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking anticipatory bail within a couple of days.

One of the alleged accused Madan Singh of Aurangpur village in this district was in judicial custody till June 13. He had told police that Pataudi had fired at the black buck.

Pataudi and his accomplices have been charged under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act and if found guilty could face a jail term of seven years and a fine of Rs 25,000.

An FIR was registered against the accused and the Haryana Police had seized the Maruti Gypsy in which the carcasses of the black buck and two rabbits, a rifle, a gun and some live cartridges were allegedly found near a wildlife sanctuary here.