ED attaches property of Kaziranga deputy conservator

KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate attached properties of MC Talukdar, deputy conservator of Kaziranga national park. Around Rs 2.9 crore from his various accounts has been attached by the agency while tiger skins, elephant tusks and deer skins were seized from his residence in Assam. Significantly, this is the first case by ED in connection with a wild life racket and money laundering through wild life trade.

Talukdar was arrested by the anti-corruption branch of Assam in June. The former deputy conservator of forest had active connection with the wild life racketeers. According to sources, Talukdar had allegedly set up around 12 illegal forest check gates where he deployed his trusted sub-ordinates. They used to extort money from racketeers and the truck carrying forest produce legally or illegally.

Taluldar is also accused of collecting money from the trucks and racketeers by confining them. The directorate is now examining the scopes of money being laundered to foreign countries through the wild life trade.