Forest dept heat on actors, godmen after photos of tiger claws go viral

BENGALURU: Following the arrest of Bigg Boss Kannada constestant Varthur Santhosh for sporting a tiger claw, the focus has been on many celebrities and well-known individuals.

On Wednesday, a team of three forest officers, led by the Bengaluru Urban RFO T N Tyagaraj, visited Sandalwood actor Darshan’s house in RR Nagar after a picture of him wearing a tiger claw went viral. The forest officials were joined by RR Nagar police inspector Shivakumar.

Actor Darshan’s house in RR Nagar was searched.

As the actor was not at home at that time, the officials recorded his statement on phone and videographed it. They also issued him a notice to present himself for inquiry. The officials said they had not seized any pendant from the house.

A complaint against Darshan had been lodged with the Forest Department in May 2022 itself, by Sharat, who lodged a complaint against Varthur Santhosh, but the department officials had chosen not to act so far. The complaint also mentioned that the actor had a talking parrot at home.

A team searched actor-MP Jaggesh’s house and issued notice.

Another team of six forest officials, led by RFO Nethravathi, visited the house of actor and BJP MP Jaggesh in Malleswaram after a video of him claiming to have a tiger claw pendant went viral. The officials searched the house for any parts of wild animals and issued a notice to Jaggesh’s wife Parimala.

A team also visited Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s house in Bengaluru.

Forest Department officials also visited the house of actor and politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, and the residence of a Kannada movie producer and issued notices to them for possession of tiger claws.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Ravindra.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Ravindra said they are receiving complaints through WhatsApp against different people. “We will issue notices and they will have to provide the objects for forensics tests. Otherwise, steps will be taken under the Wildlife Conservation Act”. Four teams have been formed for the purpose, he added.

Recently, a photograph of godman Vinay Guruji sitting on a tiger pelt had gone viral following which a complaint was lodged against him. It now turn out that one Amarendra Kiriti of Shivamogga had presented the tiger skin to Vinay Guruji’s Dattashram at Gaurigadde in Koppa taluk of Chikkamagalur district after writing to the Forest Department about two years ago.

Officials inspect the ashram and (right) the tiger pelt which was presented to Vinay Guruji.

A possession certificate for the tiger pelt had been issued by the Forest Department itself. According to Amarendra, the tiger skin was with the family for 80 years.

After the photograph went viral, a team of the Forest Department led by the Koppa Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nandish and Assistant Conservator of Forests visited the ashram and examined the documents. Speaking to reporters later, Vinay Guruji said, “We gave them all the documents. They have not called me for questioning, but only sought information”.

Vinay Guruji said all documents were given to the Forest Department officials.

Forest officials, led by ACF Mahesh Malagatti and RFO Jagadish, continued their search at the office of priest Dhananjaya Swami and the Shaneshwara Swami temple at Bidanagere in Kunigal taluk of Tumakuru district.

The officials found one of the staffers, Anil, being in possession of an ‘artificial’ tiger claw encased in gold and have seized it for forensic tests.

Dhananjaya Swami being questioned by forest officials at his office on Wednesday.

Speaking to media persons, ACF Malagatti said they have recorded the statement of Dhananjaya Guruji. “He claimed to have disposed of an artificial tiger claw which was presented to him by devotees as it had discoloured. If there is any wrongdoing, action will be initiated under the Wildlife Conservation Act”.

Dhananjaya Guruji said, “It is false that I was sporting a real tiger claw. During the 2018-19 fair, some traders who had set up shop presented an artificial tiger claw made of fibre to me. Over time, it had turned brown and I disposed it of. I am an animal lover and I wouldn’t wear a tiger claw”.