main challenge is whether the skin EX. P-1 was infact the
natural skin of baby leopard. The first aspect which glares on record ... scientific methos adopted to prove that the recovered skin was indeed the
skin of a young Leopard. The prosecution has miserably failed to prove
sourced from a leopard. This witness deposed that he
was not able to say how old the leopard skin was. He
deposed that he could ... report the
age of the skin, but merely indicated that the skin was
sourced from a leopard from physical examination.
23. Though it is claimed
accused is the skin of leopard. Secondly, the
prosecution has to prove that the said leopard skin was seized
from the possession of the accused ... same
and issued certificate stating that the said skin is the skin of
leopard. However, CW9 is not secured and examined by the
prosecution
verified
to be that of skins of leopard. That IO measured both the
recovered leopard skins and verified to be that of skins of leopard ... containing two leopard skins
and Wild Life Inspectors present with raiding party checked and
verified the skins as leopard and said skins were seized
confirm
the identity of the animal skin. He stated that skin which have typical
characteristics like of tiger, leopard, jungle cat or any skin having ... fake skin to
confirm the skin type. He further stated that he can distinguish between
the skin of leopard cub and adult leopard. He further
animal skins from the accused
vide seizure memo dated 13.04.97, 15.04.97 & 16.04.97:
(i) Lepard Skin uncured (adult) 02 pcs.
(ii) Baby Leopard Skin uncured ... statement
and got recovered one tiger skin and one skin of kid/cub of tiger. Both
the skins were taken into possession vide memo
indentification memo and told us that skin is original. The skin
was also measured. The skin was taken into police possession
after sealing the same ... office. That skins were very well
preserved. Witness stated that skins were very well
preserved, however could not tell how old the skins were
found containing four skins while packet B was found
containing three skins. Thereafter, analysis of the skins were conducted
by him which is based ... skin in packet A marked as
517/A4 and one skin in packet B marked as 517/B3 are of leopard
while other
full size skin. He stated that all these
skins were identified by Sh. B.S. Gurm as to be of leopard. He stated ... skin. In the absence of
chemical analysis/forensic examination of the skins, it cannot be said
with certainty that the recovered skins were of leopard
fake skins or
skins of other wild animals and in one instance the skin recovered upon
examination was found to be the skin ... sufficient to state with certitude that the recovered skins were
indeed skins of leopards and not of other wild or domestic animal.
13.To conclude
