Ex-minister Atram held in chinkara poaching case

Pune, Aug 30 (UNI) Former Maharahstra Minister for Transport and Tribal Development, Dharmarao Atram, an accused in the chinkara poaching case, was arrested by the forest officials here today.

Atram was produced before the Saswad court this morning, after Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Hanumant Dhumal recorded his statements in the case for the past two days. Atram had earlier applied for a bail, which was rejected.

In mid-June, Atram, along with his friend, had allegedly hunted two chinkaras in Chaudharwadi village on Gulunche-Baramati Road, and later partied at a farm house in Mahableshwar. Irate villagers had registered a complaint, following which the police and Forest Department officials raided the farm house and recovered Chinkara bones and other incriminating evidence.

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