Thrissur: Two men who were arrested for allegedly selling sambar deer meat are preparing to seek legal recourse after DNA testing confirmed the seized meat was actually beef.

Sujeesh, a loading worker from Chalakudy, and Joby, a vehicle broker, were taken into custody by the Forest Department on September 30, 2024, under suspicion of trafficking protected wildlife meat. Their arrest was primarily based on Sujeesh’s alleged confession that he had bought venison from Joby. Officials also relied on photos and voice notes shared in a WhatsApp group where Joby reportedly talked about consuming sambar deer meat.

Forest officials claimed to have seized 750 grams of meat from Joby’s residence and subsequently booked both men under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act. The duo spent 35 days in judicial custody before the Kerala High Court granted them bail.

However, the narrative shifted when the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Thiruvananthapuram concluded, through DNA analysis, that the meat was from Bos taurus (domestic cattle), not a protected species like sambar deer.

Sujeesh now alleges that forest officers coerced and physically assaulted him into making a false statement, branding the action against him as a miscarriage of justice. He intends to take legal action against the department and has expressed fears about retaliation for speaking out.

This case has spotlighted the need for scientific verification before making arrests under wildlife laws.