SC declines to interfere in plea of global ‘wildlife smuggler’ arrested by MP STSF

Bhopal: The Supreme Court has declined to interfere with petitions filed by alleged international wildlife trafficker Murugesan Manivannan, who was arrested by the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) in 2018, challenging extradition proceedings initiated at the request of the Kingdom of Thailand. While dismissing the petitions, the apex court urged the Delhi high court to hear the pending matter expeditiously.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in an order dated May 20, refused to entertain SLPs filed against a January 29, 2026, order of the Delhi HC, observing that it was not inclined to interfere in the matter at this stage.

However, taking note of concerns raised by the petitioner regarding prolonged incarceration, the Supreme Court requested the Delhi HC to make an endeavour to hear and decide the pending writ petition at the earliest.

Murugesan’s case has drawn attention because of his alleged links to a transnational wildlife trafficking network spanning multiple countries. A Singapore resident, Murugesan is accused of operating illegal wildlife trade routes across Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong, China and Madagascar. Forest officials have described him as among the world’s most wanted traffickers involved in the illegal trade of rare turtle species.

He was arrested on January 30, 2018, by the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force in Chennai following a sustained investigation into wildlife trafficking networks. He was subsequently produced before a special court in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh.

Murugesan had approached the apex court challenging both the extradition proceedings initiated against him at Thailand’s request and the denial of bail by the Delhi HC. The petitioner argued that the delay in hearing his case while he remained in judicial custody amounted to a violation of his right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Court records showed that the matter had initially been listed before the Delhi HC for hearing in April 2026, but was later adjourned to September 14, 2026, prompting Murugesan to seek intervention from the Supreme Court.

The apex court noted that extradition proceedings had been initiated against Murugesan at the request of Thailand and that he had been remanded to judicial custody pursuant to an order passed by ACJM-01, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi, on January 6, 2026. While dismissing the plea, the Supreme Court granted liberty to the petitioner to move an appropriate application before the Delhi HC seeking an early listing of the matter.

According to officials, a Patiala House court had earlier approved Murugesan’s extradition to Thailand in connection with a wildlife smuggling case. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.

In the case registered by the Madhya Pradesh forest department, the CJM court in Sagar convicted Murugesan and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment in connection with wildlife trafficking offences. However, the conviction was later overturned by the district and sessions court in Sagar, which acquitted him. Challenging the acquittal, the MP forest department moved the MPHC in Jabalpur, where the appeal remains pending.

Officials said Murugesan’s arrest was considered a major breakthrough in dismantling an international wildlife smuggling network. According to records shared by forest authorities, he had earlier been apprehended at Bangkok Airport on August 27, 2012, with nearly 900 rare turtles allegedly being smuggled. However, he later escaped.

Subsequently, the Madhya Pradesh STSF sought details regarding Murugesan’s criminal antecedents through Interpol, which shared records related to cases registered against him in Thailand and other countries.