In a major breakthrough for wildlife conservation and enforcement agencies, the Supreme Court of India has dismissed the bail plea of notorious international turtle smuggler Munivram Murugesan. Operating under the directives of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, the State Government has been aggressively cracking down on wildlife crimes. Following extradition approval from the Government of Thailand, Murugesan was successfully brought back to India and is currently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, facing numerous grave international wildlife smuggling charges. The ruling came after the apex court reviewed a Special Leave to Appeal filed by the accused.

 

Upon examining the specific circumstances of the case, the progress of the ongoing extradition proceedings, and the evidence on record, the Supreme Court decided to reject the petition. The State Tiger Strike Force (STF) of Madhya Pradesh played a pivotal role by placing crucial documents and evidence before the court, receiving extensive support from relevant Central Government departments and central agencies throughout the process. Murugesan, who has long been involved in the illicit global trade of rare and endangered turtle species, previously had a Red Corner notice issued against him by Interpol. He was initially tracked down and arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and the STF in 2018 before being produced in the court. Multiple legal proceedings against him are currently active across various courts.