Bail Refused To Accused In International Wildlife Poaching Case By Madhya Pradesh High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has refused to grant bail to an accused alleged to be part of an international wildlife poaching and trafficking network, observing that the gravity of the offence and the apprehension of the accused absconding weighed against her release.

The order, passed by Justice Ramkumar Choubey on April 30, 2026, came in a plea filed by Yangchen Lachungpa seeking regular bail under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with offences under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The prosecution case traces back to 2015, when officials of the Tiger Strike Force in Narmadapuram registered a case alleging involvement of the applicant and others in poaching and illegal trafficking of protected wild animals, including pangolins.

The applicant was initially arrested in Sikkim in September 2017 and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Gangtok, where she was granted interim bail for fifteen days with a direction to surrender before the investigating officer. However, she failed to comply with the conditions, leading to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant and subsequent proceedings over the years.

Appearing for the applicant, Senior Advocate Anil Khare, assisted by Advocate Priyankush Jain, argued that the accused had been falsely implicated and that there was no legally admissible evidence linking her to the alleged offences. It was submitted that her implication was based merely on memorandum statements and that even the alleged financial transactions predated the incident by several years.

The defence also contended that the applicant’s mobile phone had been used by her live-in partner, a co-accused, thereby weakening the prosecution’s case against her. Stressing that she had been in custody since December 2025 and that the trial would take considerable time, counsel urged the Court to grant bail, particularly considering that the applicant is a woman.

Opposing the plea, Government Advocate Ritwik Parashar argued that the case involved a well-organised international syndicate engaged in poaching and trafficking of endangered species. The State emphasised that the applicant had remained absconding for nearly eight years after violating the conditions of interim bail and had only been apprehended in December 2025.

It was further pointed out that a Red Corner Notice had been issued against her through Interpol, indicating the seriousness of the allegations and the risk of her fleeing jurisdiction again. The State also highlighted that a co-accused who had earlier been granted bail had subsequently absconded, leading to cancellation of his bail, thereby reinforcing concerns about non-cooperation with the trial process.

After hearing both sides and examining the case diary, the Court found that the material on record disclosed prima facie involvement of the applicant in the alleged offences. The Court underscored the organised and transnational nature of the alleged activities, noting that they involved trafficking of protected wildlife such as pangolins, which are among the most endangered species globally.

In its order, the Court observed, “the matter involves international gang of poachers and traffickers of wild life animals like Pangolin,” and added that the apprehension expressed by the State regarding the applicant’s availability for trial “appears to be well founded.”

Taking into account the seriousness of the allegations, the conduct of the applicant in evading the legal process for several years, and the likelihood of her not cooperating with the trial if released, the Court held that it was not inclined to grant bail. It concluded that the facts and circumstances of the case, coupled with the gravity of the offence, did not warrant exercise of judicial discretion in favour of the applicant at this stage.

Case Title: Yangchen Lachungpa v. The State of Madhya Pradesh

Date of Order: April 30, 2026

Bench: Justice Ramkumar Choubey