Pune: Officials of the crime branch unit III has arrested a 29-year-old man who was in possession with two Indian star tortoises which is a threatened species of tortoise. The species is quite popular in the exotic pet trade, black magic practices. According to Police Inspector Dipak Nikam of crime branch unit III, police constable Nitin Rawal had received a tip off about Prashant Satpute who is keeping the tortoise at his home in Erandwane.
 
Accordingly, a team of crime branch including Assistant Police Inspector Sandip Deshmane, Sub-Inspector Sanjay Gaikwad, Ajay Mehtre and constables nabbed Satav from his residence. The police were successful in seizing the tortoise from Satpute’s residence. The police said that accused has been arrested under Wildlife Protection Act. 

The police said that the superstitious people believe that tortoise and snakes help in gaining wealth and hence, people smuggle in such species.The police team also included policemen Kishore Shinde, Machindra Walke, Kailash Solunke, Rohidas Lavande, Gajanan Ganbote and Wilson Dsouza.