Overview
- Forest officials said Saturday that a central lab in Kolkata verified the pendant’s tooth as belonging to a leopard.
- The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Perumbavoor holds the test report, and forest officers plan to seek a copy and file a prosecution report.
- The case began on April 28, 2025 after Hill Palace police in Kochi found 6 grams of suspected cannabis and flagged a tooth-like pendant during a raid.
- Vedan was booked under Wildlife Protection Act provisions on hunting, wildlife trophies, government ownership of seized animal articles, and search and arrest powers.
- He has said the pendant was a gift obtained abroad, but possession of parts of protected animals is illegal in India and can lead to jail and fines.