A crocodile and a turtle were discovered being unlawfully held in a residence in Mumbai’s Juhu area, as per Mumbai Police. Following a collaborative effort involving the Forest Department, Mumbai Crime Branch Unit-9, and an NGO, both animals were successfully rescued. A case has been filed against a 29-year-old individual named Imran Ismail Sheikh under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The Forest Department was alerted about the crocodile’s presence in a Juhu house, leading to a coordinated operation. Forest Guard Roshan Binde from the Andheri Range office, in consultation with Crime Branch Unit-9, orchestrated the rescue mission. The team, comprising law enforcement, Forest Department officials, and the NGO ‘Serp India,’ executed the operation at Ruiya Park, Moragaon Shankar Chawl on J.R. Mhatre Marg in Juhu.
Upon entering the house, the team encountered a woman and a young man identified as Shahida Sheikh and her brother Imran Sheikh. Inside a glass tank in a small room, a live Indian crocodile and an Indian spotted turtle were found during the search. Both animals are classified under Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, rendering their private possession unlawful.
The rescue team safely relocated the crocodile and turtle to secure enclosures, with the entire operation being digitally documented. Shahida Sheikh mentioned during questioning that her brother Imran had brought the animals home, although Imran refrained from disclosing how the animals were obtained. Imran Ismail Sheikh faces charges under Sections 9, 39, 48, and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, with investigations ongoing.
The rescued crocodile and turtle have been handed over to the Forest Department for appropriate care and rehabilitation, as confirmed by officials.
