The Bombay High Court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail application of former Maharashtra minister Dharmarao Atram in a
chinkara poaching case and asked him to surrender by August 28.
Justice V K Tahilramani directed Atram, who has been evading arrest in the case, to surrender before the sub-divisional forest officer in Bhor, Pune. During the hearing, Atram had sought the withdrawal of his application, challenging a Pune court order denying him anticipatory bail, as he felt that the verdict may go against him.
The former minister of state for tribal development is facing charges under Forest Act and Wildlife Protection Act for allegedly killing two chinkaras, an endangered species.
The forest department has already arrested six persons in the case. Atram has been accused of killing two chinkaras on two separate occasions in June this year.