Will Honour Court Order: Poaching Lobby Cannot Deter Us, Says Wildlife SO
BHOPAL (India CSR): Wildlife SOS has said it will comply fully with the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order recalling the interim protection earlier granted to its Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Kartick Satyanarayan, in a matter under investigation by the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF).
In a statement, the wildlife conservation organisation said the withdrawal of Satyanarayan’s writ petition was a procedural development and should not be treated as a finding on the merits of the case or a determination of guilt. It said Satyanarayan would cooperate with the concerned authorities in line with the date stipulated by the High Court, while also exploring legal remedies available before that date.
Wildlife SOS said its petition had sought protection against coercive action during the investigation. The organisation said it respected the court’s directions and would abide by them.
A Wildlife SOS spokesperson alleged that the organisation had concerns over the manner in which the STSF investigation was being conducted. The spokesperson said colleague Wasim Akram had been taken into custody and claimed that, despite requests through official and legal channels, the organisation had not yet received a copy of the Forest Offence Report (FOR).
The organisation also alleged that its staff were being “vilified and harassed” at the behest of a poaching lobby. These are allegations made by Wildlife SOS and have not been independently verified in the statement provided.
Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder and Secretary of Wildlife SOS, said the organisation expected the investigation to proceed fairly and transparently. She said it hoped the FOR and details of the charges would be shared through appropriate legal channels. She also expressed concern over media coverage and said the matter should be considered through due process.
Wildlife SOS’s legal spokesperson said the organisation was confident that the investigation and court proceedings would establish Satyanarayan’s innocence. The organisation said it would continue to cooperate with investigating authorities while pursuing remedies available under law.
As the matter is sub judice, Wildlife SOS said it would not comment further on the merits and would allow the legal and investigative process to take its course.
