Officials arrested Sahil Gaur alias Sahil Sharma, a resident of Mandrela in Jhunjhunu district, after months of surveillance. The accused allegedly posed as a spiritual guru and sold “tantra packages” containing banned animal parts to clients across several states.
Assistant Conservator of Forests Harendra Singh said Gaur ran social media accounts under the guise of a Vastu and energy guru, marketing “tantra packages” priced between ₹50,000 and ₹3 lakh, according to a PTI report.
He reportedly served customers across Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. His pitch claimed the items would bring ‘prosperity and business success.’
The WCCB and forest department intercepted him at Jhunjhunu Railway Station while delivering wildlife products to a decoy customer. Authorities seized contraband worth about ₹20 lakh, including owl claws, wild boar teeth, and musk pods, all protected under India’s wildlife laws.
Investigators say Gaur may have collaborated with a Maharashtra-based wildlife trafficker to source the banned items.
This case underscores how wildlife traffickers increasingly exploit online platforms to sell illicit animal parts.
According to an HT report, the WCCB has in past years flagged how online portals have been used to traffic wildlife products under the radar.
Authorities are expected to file charges under the Wildlife Protection Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The seized materials will undergo forensic analysis to trace their origin.
The arrest also serves as a warning to those exploiting spiritual or mystical claims to mask criminal wildlife trafficking.
