Major Conviction in Transnational Tiger Poaching Network
In a significant victory against organized wildlife crime, the Special Tiger Strike Force (STSF) of Madhya Pradesh has achieved a landmark conviction. The notorious alleged international tiger poacher Adin Singh, widely known as Kalla Bawriya, along with two of his associates, has been sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment.
Court Delivers Judgment in Wildlife Crime Case
According to official statements from the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), the conviction was formally pronounced on February 11. The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Narmadapuram found all three accused guilty of serious wildlife offenses. In addition to the four-year prison term, the court imposed a substantial fine of Rs 25,000 on each convicted individual.
International Manhunt and Arrest Operation
Forest department officials detailed the extensive operation that led to this conviction. Kalla Bawriya was apprehended on August 18, 2023, from Bilaspur in the Vidarbha region. This arrest followed specific intelligence inputs provided by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of the Government of India. The STSF then coordinated with multiple national and international enforcement agencies to trace and dismantle his extensive criminal network.
Through official channels with the Government of India, contact was established with the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) headquarters located in Kathmandu, Nepal. This collaboration revealed that a case of tiger poaching and smuggling of tiger parts had been registered against Bawriya in Nepal back in 2012. Furthermore, a separate case involving tiger poaching and illegal trade in tiger parts was filed against him in neighboring Maharashtra in 2013.
Expanding Investigation and Additional Arrests
Authorities confirmed that the accused had been a wanted fugitive for several years, pursued by forest departments and police forces across multiple Indian states, as well as by law enforcement agencies in Nepal. Following his initial arrest, he was transferred to the forest department in Akola district of Maharashtra under a production warrant issued by the STSF.
The investigation continued to expand in 2025, leading to the arrest of two additional key suspects. Pujari Singh and Ramkumar Singh Bawariya, both residents of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, were identified as crucial links within the poaching network. Additionally, a woman named Teropi, a resident of Assam, was arrested for her alleged role in facilitating the gang's illegal operations.
Scientific Evidence and Strong Prosecution
The forest department emphasized that this conviction was secured through meticulous collection of scientific and forensic evidence during the investigation. A robust prosecution case was presented by the Assistant District Public Prosecution Officer in Narmadapuram, which proved instrumental in achieving this legal outcome.
Future Steps Against Transnational Wildlife Crime
Officials from the Madhya Pradesh forest department announced they will approach the Central Government to initiate proceedings for the potential extradition of Kalla Bawriya to Nepal. This step aims to address the pending cases against him in that country and further dismantle the transnational tiger poaching and wildlife trafficking network operating across South Asia. This conviction represents a crucial step in combating organized wildlife crime that threatens endangered species across international borders.
