NTI (Haridwar): In a major breakthrough in the sensational case of an illegal snake venom collection center in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district, the Forest Department has achieved significant success. The main accused, Nitin Kumar, who had been absconding for a long time, has been arrested by the Roorkee Range team from the Narsan area. Additional snake venom was recovered from Nitin’s possession, which will now be tested at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). This arrest comes 42 days after the raid on September 9, during which equipment for venom collection, along with 70 cobras and 16 Russell’s vipers, was seized from Khajrpur village.

This case is linked to Khajrpur village under the Roorkee Range of the Haridwar Forest Division (Kotwali Civil Lines police station area). On September 9, following a tip-off from an informant, the Forest Department team conducted a raid, exposing the illegal snake venom collection center. The raid yielded 70 cobra snakes, 16 Russell’s viper snakes, snake venom filled in eight bottles, equipment for extracting venom, and suspicious documents. These snake venoms are primarily used in the production of anti-venom drugs, but their collection and sale without a license constitute a serious offense under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The center was being operated by Nitin Kumar (son of Satyapal Singh), a resident of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, who fled the scene upon the raid.

Subsequently, on September 16, the center’s caretaker, Vishnu Pant, was arrested from the Rishikesh area and is currently lodged in the district jail. To track Nitin, the Forest Department formed three special teams, which were monitoring potential hideouts in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi-NCR. Nitin was frequently changing locations and planning to surrender in court, but on October 19, the team apprehended him in the Narsan area based on another informant’s tip. During the arrest, additional snake venom (in eight containers) was recovered from his possession.

Under the direction of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, strict interrogation of Nitin is underway in the ongoing investigation. The department suspects that this illegal trade is part of a larger network, with venom supplies reaching Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and possibly foreign markets. Investigations are being conducted into Nitin’s bank transactions, phone call details, and contacts to identify co-accused and buyers. The black market for snake venom in India is worth millions of rupees, where the price of one milliliter of cobra venom can range from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh. This venom can only be legally collected by authorized institutions for medical research and anti-venom production.

It is reported that the seized venom will be sent to WII Dehradun to determine its quantity and species (cobra, viper, or others). The investigation will be completed with the permission of the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court, providing strong evidence in the case. If necessary, Nitin will be remanded for further intensive questioning.

This incident highlights the rising trend of wildlife smuggling in Uttarakhand. Venomous species like cobras and Russell’s vipers are protected, and their trafficking not only harms biodiversity but also poses a threat to human health. The Forest Department has strengthened its informant network to curb such activities. Experts believe that increasing legal production of snake venom could reduce the black market. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests may follow soon. The Forest Department has appealed to the public to immediately report any information on such illegal activities.

Haridwar DFO Swapnil Aniruddh stated, “This arrest is the result of our strict action against illegal wildlife smuggling. The interrogation of Nitin will uncover the entire network. The WII examination of the venom will provide solid evidence in the case.”