Sunday, June 12 2005 20:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jhajjar(New Delhi): Haryana police today (Jun 12, 2005) remained clueless on the whereabouts of former India cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and six others, accused in the killing of a black buck.

"Raids are on in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to arrest Pataudi and the others, but none of the accused has been apprehended so far," Jhajjar Superintendent of Police Hanief Qureshi said.

Qureshi said that the police were, however, confident of arresting them at the earliest.

Haryana police has been on the lookout for Pataudi and the others after the extended deadline for appearance before the authorities expired on Friday (Jun 10, 2005).

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and People for Animals (PFA), meanwhile, hired two counsels to oppose any possible bail pleas of the accused in the designated environment court in Faridabad.

"We have apprehensions that the prosecution may help the accused in the case," a council representing the NGOs alleged.

"We are going to be watchdogs to see that prosecution do not help accused in the case," he said.

Vineet Bajaj, lawyer for PFA said in New Delhi, "We have been keeping a watch on the case and whenever the bail plea is made in the court, we will be there to oppose it".

"The role of the police in the case has been dubious they seem to shielding the accused," Bajaj alleged adding that the bail plea would be fiercely opposed.

Speculation has been rife since yesterday that Pataudi would be moving the court but it was a futile wait for Bajaj and his wildlife colleagues and a battery of mediapersons who descended on Faridabad.

Madan Singh, one of the eight accused, has been remanded in judicial custody till tomorrow (Jun 13, 2005).

Pataudi and seven others have been charged under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for allegedly killing an endangered black buck and two hares.