Thane Court Orders Destruction Of 292 Live Low-Intensity Bombs Recovered From Wild Boar Poaching Case
The Thane Sessions Court has granted an application filed by the Rabodi Police to dispose of 292 live low-intensity bombs used to kill wild boars which were recovered by the Thane crime branch in December, 2024. The court ruled that the bombs, posing a constant threat, must be forwarded to the Controller of Explosives for destruction as per the procedures laid down in the Explosives Act, 1988.
The court in its orders maintained “The police, acting on secret information, raided the accused and recovered 292 live bombs primarily used for killing wild boars. These bombs were stored and dealt with in violation of the law. As per the procedure, such explosives must be destroyed, and the remains sent to the laboratory for testing. Considering the threat posed, the seized bombs need to be forwarded to the Controller of Explosives for destruction under the 1988 Act.”
Three individuals—Subhash Gajanan Pahelkar (45), a resident of Raigad; Palish Sikare (37); and Muribai alias Murlibai Palish (32), originally from Madhya Pradesh but residing in Satara—were arrested for possessing the country-made, low-intensity bombs.
The main accused, Subhash, was apprehended on December 2, 2024, from Saket Ground, following a tip-off about a person allegedly carrying bombs intended for wild boar hunting. Initially, 10 bombs were seized from Subhash, with further investigation revealing a total of 292 explosives valued at approximately ₹2.92 lakh.
The bombs were reportedly intended for sale and used to protect agricultural lands from wild boars, which cause significant damage to crops. According to the police, a single herd of wild boars can destroy up to 70% of agricultural fields in one night, consuming and trampling crops like paddy, wheat, and maize.
The investigation revealed that the accused had claimed that the explosives were used by farmers as a desperate measure to safeguard their lands from wild boar invasions.
The accused were booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Explosives Act.
The Rabodi Police initially filed an application with the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) for permission to destroy the explosives. After the JMFC rejected the application, the police appealed to the Thane Sessions Court. The prosecution argued that the Explosives Act, 1988, designates the Controller of Explosives as the competent authority to handle and destroy recovered explosives. The Act prescribes destruction of the substance, followed by an analysis of the remains by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).
“In the current case, 292 live bombs are stored at the police station. If destruction orders are not issued, the potential for mischief cannot be ruled out,” the prosecution had argued.
The Sessions Court allowed the police’s application, directing the Controller of Explosives to destroy the bombs as per the law and submit a report to the concerned Magistrate.
