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Mumbai: Controversial former minister and senior NCP leader Dharmrao Baba Atram on Thursday got a minor relief from the high court against his likely arrest in the killing of a chinkara on June 14. According to reports, forest sleuths will not be able to arrest Atram till August 19, when the Pune sessions court takes up his anticipatory bail application for final hearing on August 19.

"The court has restrained the forest department from arresting Atram till August 19,'' Sachin Dhakephalkar, counsel for Atram told TOI.

Earlier, ignoring mounting political pressure, forest department officialsled by H G Dhumal-were moving closer to arrest the senior NCP leader for his alleged involvement in the chinkara case.

"We are awaiting a final order from the court. Once a decision on his application for anticipatory bail is taken , we are free to take action against him under the Wildlife Protection Act as we have adequate circumstantial evidence,'' a senior forest official said.

On Wednesday, Atram had moved an application for anticipatory bail before a Pune court. Additional sessions judge D P Waikar adjourned the case to August 19 for final hearing. Atram claims to be innocent and that he was being framed. Incidentally, forest minister Babanrao Pachpute, also belongs to NCP.

On June 16, villagers of Saswad in Satara district lodged a complaint with the forest department, alleging that a chinkara was killed by unknown persons . Following this, a high-level probe was ordered into the incident. Subsequently , the forest department arrested Mahesh Biramane, a close associate of Atram. The same day, following directives from NCP president Sharad Pawar, Atram quit the cabinet.

A week later, forest department officials seized Atram's car and weapons, including a revolver. On August 9, they detained Atram's personal bodyguard. On August 11, the assistant conservator H G Dhumal summoned Atram to his Pune office to record his statement. Atram did not turn up, saying that he was unable to reach Pune because of heavy rains. Now the forest department will record his statement on August 18.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/HC_grants_interim_relief_to_At...