CBI: Nagpur court jails three for illegal leopard skin trade in 15-year case
Synopsis
A Nagpur court has sentenced three men to three years each for illegally selling leopard skin in a CBI case that took 15 years to reach a verdict — a rare custodial outcome in an Indian wildlife trafficking prosecution. On the same day, the CBI arrested a proclaimed offender in a 20-year-old Bihar bank fraud case, signalling continued pressure on long-evading accused.
Key Takeaways
Nagpur court on 5 November 2026 convicted Gulam Mustafa , Ajay , and Gopal for illegally selling leopard skin.
Each convict received 3 years' imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act .
The CBI had filed its chargesheet on 21 December 2001 , making this a 15-year-old case.
Separately, the CBI arrested proclaimed offender Raja Bihari from Punpun, Bihar in a two-decade-old bank fraud case involving Allahabad Bank, Patna .
Raja Bihari had been absconding since the chargesheet was filed on 30 October 2009 .
A court in Nagpur on Thursday, 5 November 2026, sentenced three men to three years' imprisonment each for the illegal sale of leopard skin, bringing a 15-year-old case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to a close. Each convict was also fined ₹5,000.
The Convictions
Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nagpur, convicted Gulam Mustafa, Ajay, and Gopal under provisions related to criminal conspiracy and Sections 49-B and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, which prohibit dealing in animal trophies and wildlife articles and prescribe punishment for such offences. The CBI had filed its chargesheet in this case on 21 December 2001, following an investigation into allegations that the three accused had sold leopard skins illegally to unidentified buyers.
A Decade-and-a-Half in the Making
The length of the legal proceedings — spanning roughly 15 years from the filing of the chargesheet to the final verdict — reflects the broader challenge facing wildlife crime prosecutions in India. Leopards are listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, affording them the highest level of legal protection. This case is among the relatively rare instances where a CBI-investigated wildlife crime has resulted in a custodial sentence. Notably, wildlife trafficking remains a persistent threat across central India, where leopard habitats overlap with human settlements.
Separate CBI Arrest: Bank Fraud Accused Nabbed After Two Decades
In an unrelated development on the same day, the CBI arrested a proclaimed offender from Punpun in Bihar in connection with a two-decade-old bank fraud case. The accused, Raja Bihari, had reportedly obtained a loan from the Allahabad Bank, Patliputra Colony Branch, Patna, allegedly in conspiracy with bank officials and middlemen, using forged title deeds, fabricated property documents, and fake guarantor credentials.
The CBI had originally registered the bank fraud case against 21 accused, including Raja Bihari, under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. A chargesheet was filed on 30 October 2009, and the Special CBI Court took cognisance on 12 November 2009. Raja Bihari had evaded the investigation from the outset and was subsequently declared a proclaimed offender by the Special Court.
According to the CBI, a dedicated team, acting on intelligence inputs, traced and apprehended Raja Bihari from Punpun on Thursday. His arrest ends years of evasion and is expected to allow the stalled trial to progress.
What Happens Next
The three leopard skin convicts may appeal their sentences before a higher court. In the Bihar bank fraud matter, Raja Bihari will now face trial before the Special CBI Court, which had been awaiting his appearance for over a decade. Both cases underscore the CBI's sustained pursuit of long-pending cases, though critics argue that the pace of such prosecutions remains slow relative to the volume of registered cases.
Point of View
000 fine, set in 2001-era statute, is negligible against the black-market value of a leopard skin today, raising questions about whether the punishment structure still fits the crime. The parallel arrest of Raja Bihari after two decades on the run is a rare enforcement win, but it also highlights how easily proclaimed offenders can remain at large for years. The CBI's simultaneous actions in a wildlife case and a banking fraud case on the same day point to an institution clearing a backlog rather than a surge in proactive deterrence.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Nagpur leopard skin case about?
The case involved three accused — Gulam Mustafa, Ajay, and Gopal — who allegedly sold leopard skins illegally to unidentified buyers. The CBI investigated the matter and filed a chargesheet on 21 December 2001 under criminal conspiracy provisions and Sections 49-B and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act.
What sentence did the Nagpur court hand down?
Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nagpur, sentenced each of the three convicts to three years' imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000 on 5 November 2026, nearly 15 years after the chargesheet was filed.
Who is Raja Bihari and why was he arrested?
Raja Bihari is an accused in a two-decade-old bank fraud case involving Allahabad Bank's Patliputra Colony Branch in Patna. He allegedly obtained a loan using forged documents and fake guarantor credentials, then absconded, and was declared a proclaimed offender by the Special CBI Court before being arrested from Punpun, Bihar on Thursday.
What law governs leopard skin trade in India?
Leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 — the highest category of protection. Sections 49-B and 51 of the Act specifically prohibit dealing in animal trophies and articles and prescribe criminal punishment, under which the three Nagpur convicts were sentenced.
What happens next in both cases?
The three leopard skin convicts can appeal their sentences before a higher court. In the Bihar bank fraud matter, Raja Bihari will now stand trial before the Special CBI Court, which had taken cognisance of the chargesheet back in November 2009.
