Hey there, folks! Let’s talk about some recent drama unfolding in Pune. The forest department is cracking down on an event organiser and an elephant owner for breaking wildlife protection laws, but guess who’s getting a free pass? None other than Bhor MLA Shankar Mandekar from the Nationalist Congress Party.
So, what happened? Well, during a fancy event to honour Mandekar, he was parading around on an elephant like it was NBD. Photos and videos of the spectacle went viral, and people weren’t too happy about it. Honorary Wildlife Warden Aditya Paranjape even filed a complaint.
The forest department is quick to go after the organiser and elephant owner, slapping them with violations left and right. But when it comes to Mandekar, they’re suddenly silent. Mandekar claims he had no idea about the elephant situation and was just there to celebrate with the villagers.
But hold up, Range Forest Officer Pratap Jagtap says elephant processions are a big no-no under the law. The permission document only allowed for transportation, not a full-blown procession with firecrackers and music bands.
Despite all this, Mandekar is skating by while others face the consequences. Wildlife activists are calling out the department for playing favorites and letting a politician off the hook. The question remains: will the forest department do the right thing and hold Mandekar accountable, or will political influence win out?
Stay tuned as this wild story unfolds in Pune!
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