Ahmedabad Rural SOG, Forest dept bust inter-state trading of Indian star tortoises, 4 held

In a joint operation, the Forest Department and the Ahmedabad Rural Special Operations Group (SOG) busted an inter-state racket involved in the illegal trade of Indian star tortoises — a species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Four accused from Rajasthan and Gujarat were arrested, and ten live tortoises were rescued during the operation.

According to officials, the joint operation was launched after the SOG received specific intelligence that a social media account named 'Ahmedabad_dog_lovers' on Instagram was being used to advertise and sell Indian star tortoises illegally. Acting on the information, a coordinated operation began under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (Ahmedabad Rural) Om Prakash Jat, IPS, and Deputy Conservator of Forests Dr Minal Jani (GFS).

A team comprising Ahmedabad Rural Police officials, along with officials from the Forest department, carried out simultaneous raids based on technical surveillance. The accused were apprehended, and 10 Indian star tortoise were rescued alive.

The arrested have been identified as:

* Mukesh Dilipbhai Soni, resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan — the main handler operating the Instagram page “Ahmedabad_dog_lovers” and responsible for accepting online orders.

* Shubham Sunil Notwani, resident of Ajmer, Rajasthan — acted as the intermediary, forwarding orders to his associates.

* Yashwantsinh Rajendrasinh Chauhan (Rajput), resident of Pali, Rajasthan, who coordinated with suppliers in Ahmedabad to fulfil orders.

* Sanket Maheshbhai Sonwane, resident of Behrampura, Ahmedabad — handled delivery through local porters and app-based courier services.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang had developed a chain-based network to supply tortoises across states using social media platforms for outreach and UPI-based digital transactions for payments. Officials said the group had so far traded more than 50 Indian star tortoises across Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Dr Minal Jani, Deputy Conservator of Forests, said the racket was uncovered after the Forest department conducted a decoy operation, during which the accused delivered 10 live tortoises to an undercover team. “The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Trading, keeping, or transporting this species is a punishable offence carrying up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000,” she said.

Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat said the racket was active across multiple states, with each accused handling a specific role — from advertising and order-taking to delivery. “The accused used social media to reach buyers and app-based courier services to conceal the movement of wildlife. We suspect more animals may have been trafficked through similar channels,” he said.

Officials estimate that the Indian star tortoise fetches between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh in the illegal wildlife market. The species is often trafficked for use as pets, in religious rituals, and for export to Southeast Asian countries where it is considered auspicious.

Authorities have appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any online advertisements or social media pages promoting the sale of wildlife. “Anyone found in possession of or trading such species will face strict legal action. Public cooperation is crucial in curbing such offences,” officials added.

Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the seized tortoises and identify other members of the network.