Bangalore :The Bangalore wing of People For Animals, chaired by activist and union minister Maneka Gandhi, have been charge sheeted for euthanizing 20 black kites, listed in schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Twenty kites that suffered from severe ailments like wounds, resulting in crushing of bones, torn chests, gangrene, septic wounds, severe sepsis and nerve injuries were put to sleep between January 20 and February 02, 2013

The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, clearly specifies that a person intending to kill or cull wild animals/birds, has to obtain prior permission from the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden, who is also the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), it was not done in this case, sources said.

The forest officials had registered a case in October 2013, and an inquiry was carried out. After a detailed probe, the inquiry report was filed on July 2, 2014 before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bangalore rural, indicting five for violating provisions of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

 The five under the scanner are Alpana Bharatia, founder trustee PFA, Namrata Dugar, trustee, PFA, Arushi Poddar, trustee, PFA, Gauri Maini Hira, trustee, PFA, and Kishan, general manager, PFA. All the five run the Bangalore PFA, with a rescue and rehab shelter.