India: Golfer Jyoti Randhawa was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly poaching in a forest range in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, known for its variety of endangered species, officials said.

The international golfer and national shooter Mahesh Virajdar were arrested in Motipur range of Katerniaghat, said Ramesh Pandey, Field Director of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

A dead fowl and hides of Sambhar deer and boar were seized from Mr. Randhawa. A .22 rifle, binoculars and range finders were also recovered from his vehicle, which had a Haryana number plate.

An officer said Mr. Randhawa appeared to be inebriated.

Police slapped serious charges under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Indian Forest Act, 1927, against the two. They were produced before magistrate Shikha Yadav, who denied them bail and remanded them in judicial custody for 14 days.

The Divisional Forest Officer of Katarniaghat is leading the investigation. He could not be contacted as his phone is switched off.

The Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Upper Gangetic plain falling in the terai of Bahraich district on the Indo-Nepal border. In 1987, it was brought under the purview of the ‘Project Tiger.’

Spread over more than 400 sq km, it is part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and provides connectivity between the tiger habitats of Dudhwa and Kishanpur in India and Nepal.

An official said forest staff, who were on alert mode owing to their year-end protocol, found the 46-year-old Mr. Randhawa roaming in a “suspicious manner.”

Mr. Randhawa was ranked among the world’s top 100 golfers between 2004 and 2009.

He was married to actress Chitrangada Singh for 13 years before they divorced in 2014. He reportedly owns a farmhouse in Lakhimpur Kheri.

Virajdar had served in the Navy as a Captain, a post equivalent to Colonel in the Army and Group Captain in the IAF. He was court-martialled four years ago on charges of financial irregularities.

Katarniaghat is home to a wide range of endangered species, including the rhino, Gangetic dolphin, gharial, swamp deer, tiger, white-backed and long-billed vultures and Hispid hare.

(Source: The Hindu Times)