CBI seizes 57 Shahtoosh Shawls, arrests three

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The Central Bureau of Investigation has seized 57 Shahtoosh Shawls worth Rs 2.40 crore, a banned item under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, from the possession of two persons who hail from Srinager, Jammu and Kashmir.

This is one of the biggest haul of Shahtoosh Shawls made by any agency of the country. The international value of the seizure is estimated to be about Rs 2.40 crore. The seizure was made from a room in a star hotel in Delhi on Monday night, a CBI release here today said.

The accused were operating in Delhi from Lajpat Nagar and Dwarka areas. Subsequent searches by the CBI at their premises resulted in the recovery of several crucial documents relating to their network, bank accounts, their firms' details and contacts, providing clues to CBI to bust the whole network.

A delivery agent, domicile of Srinagar had also been arrested in this connection.

Initial investigation by CBI had also revealed the sources from where these Shawls were brought to Delhi for sale.

All three accused were being interrogated and investigations were on, the release said.

UNI