Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10 contestant Varthur Santhosh, who was arrested by the Forest Department for allegedly wearing a tiger claw pendant, has been remanded to judicial custody.
Officials had produced Santhosh in the 2nd ACJM court at National Games Village, Koramangala, as there was a two-day holiday due to Dasara festival on October 23. The magistrate sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.
Santhosh was arrested by Forest Department officials on October 22 late evening after he was seen allegedly wearing a tiger claw pendant inside the Bigg Boss house while the reality show was being recorded at Kumbalagodu.
The department booked a suo moto case under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which makes wearing or displaying any animal parts a punishable offence.
Santhosh’s advocate has filed for bail, and the plea will come up for hearing on Wednesday.
The department officials have issued a notice to the jeweller who designed the locket for Santhosh to find out the source of the claw. The police also detained Ranjith, a friend of Santhosh, to find out the source of the tiger claw. The police suspect that it is a bigger racket linked to poachers and investigations are on.
It may be recalled that earlier the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest had written to the jewellers association asking them not to use body parts of wild animals in jewellery and warned of legal action against violators.
