Elephant death by electrocution does not amount to ‘hunting’

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: An order of conviction and sentence by a trial court for ‘hunting’ an elephant has been set aside by the High Court which held that the death was caused by electrocution from an illegal fence but the intention of the accused was not to hunt an elephant.

However, his conviction for mischief causing the death of an animal was upheld by the Court. Venkatesh, from Doddabaragi village in HD Kote, Mysuru approached the High Court against the conviction passed against him by a Sessions court in Mysuru in 2011.

His appeal filed in 2011 was disposed by Justice Shivashankar Aarannavar on January 4, 2023. While patrolling, Forest Department guards found eagles flying overhead and when they visited the spot, they found a dead elephant which had died due to electrocution.

Venkatesh had fenced his sugarcane farm with electric fence leading to the elephant’s death. A complaint was filed and he was charged under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act.