Saturday, June 11 2005 10:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In a new development in the poaching case in which former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi is an accused, the Chief Wildlife Warden, Haryana, has issued summons to the local forest officials of Jhajjhar and other authorities on a complaint alleging slackness in the investigation of the case.

Chief Wildlife Warden K L Manhas has issued the summons acting on a complaint by local animal rights activist Naresh Kumar Kadyan, who claimed that the police has been handling the case violating the statutory provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Manhas has sought the copy of the original FIR of the case, original post-mortem report of the dead animals, authority under which the accused and their vehicles were released by the SHO on the night of the incident, authority under which investigations are being conducted by the SHO in the case and action taken so far by the local wildlife authorities and local police in the case.

Among those summoned for inquiry into the matter on June 14 are the Divisional Forest Officer-cum-Wildlife Warden, Jhajjar, Divisional Wildlife Officer, Rohtak, DSP/SHO, Jhajjar, Wildlife Inspector, Jhajjar and Chief Veterinary Officer, Jhajjar.

Kadyan, meanwhile, has been asked to present the original post-mortem report prepared at Delhi zoo on June 6.

Earlier after the deadline for appearance of Pataudi and his six other accomplices lapsed, police constituted three teams for arresting the alleged accused in the poaching case.

Haryana police had fixed June 10 as the deadline for the accused, including Pataudi to surrender.

Sources said Pataudi was expected to move an environment court at Faridabad today (Jun 11, 2005) or on Monday (Jun 13, 2005) for anticipatory bail.

"Pataudi was to move the court in Jhajjar yesterday for anticipatory bail. However, after dismissal of anticipatory bail plea of Shashi Singh (one of the alleged accused in poaching case), the former cricketer decided otherwise," one of his counsels said in New Delhi.

He said Singh was also expected to move the Punjab and Haryana High court seeking anticipatory bail within a couple of days.

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 vehicle in which the carcasses of a black buck and two rabbits, a rifle, a gun and some live cartridges were allegedly found near a wildlife sanctuary in New Delhi.