Thane, Jan 27 (PTI) A man from neighbouring Mumbai was arrested for alleged possession of pangolin scalp worth Rs 12 lakh, police said on Thursday.

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Based on a tip-off, the police laid a trap and intercepted Kiran Dhanawade (31) in Wagle Estate area of Maharashtra's Thane city on Wednesday, senior inspector Vikas Godhke of crime unit-5 said.

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The accused, who is a resident of Ghatkopar, had 5.5 kg of pangolin scalp, worth Rs 12 lakh, in his possession and had come to Thane to sell the substance, he said.

An offence under the Wildlife Protection Act has been registered against the accused with the Shree Nagar police station of the Wagle Estate division, the official said.

The police are probing from where the accused acquired the substance and to whom he was planning to sell it, he said.

Pangolin scalp is used for several purposes, including in medicines.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)