Bengaluru: The High Court has issued an interim stay on the notice and search warrant issued by the forest department, which was delivered within an hour of the tiger claw pendant controversy involving Rajya Sabha member and actor Jaggesh. The Forest Department’s actions have faced scrutiny, with the High Court expressing strong disapproval of the search conducted by forest officials.
Jaggesh approached the High Court to contest the Forest Department’s decision to issue notices and conduct searches based on social media footage. The bench, presided over by Justice M Nagaprasanna, issued the interim stay on the notice and search warrant during the petition hearing. The court stressed that forest officials should have waited for a response to the notice rather than rushing into searches within an hour. The court also questioned whether these actions were driven by a desire for publicity, suggesting that there might be alternative ways to gain attention without resorting to such tactics.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that on October 25, the Deputy Conservator of Forests issued a notice, requesting the surrender of any tiger claw items in Jaggesh’s possession. Within an hour of receiving the notice, 14 officers, led by the Assistant Conservator of Forests, visited Jaggesh’s residence and conducted a search. Furthermore, forest department officials reviewed social media footage from an interview given to the media around 40 years ago and declared their intention to conduct a search. The government’s lawyer argued that they had information suggesting that the tiger claw might be destroyed, prompting swift action.
Expressing dissatisfaction, the bench raised questions about the sources of this information and characterized the forest department’s actions as being driven by a desire for publicity rather than following legal procedures. The petitioner’s counsel argued that Jaggesh is a member of the Rajya Sabha, and Parliament sessions are ongoing with important matters for discussion. He questioned the appropriateness of the forest department’s actions in this case.
The controversy arose after Jaggesh exhibited a tiger claw pendant in a media interview from a few years ago, confirming its authenticity. This statement gained attention on social media following the seizure of tiger claws from Bigg Boss contestant Varthur Santhosh by forest department officials. In response to the forest department’s notice, Jaggesh turned to the High Court to challenge their actions.
