On Wednesday (September 17, 2025), the CBI arrested Chandan smuggler Rajkumar Sharma, who is absconding from Bahadurgarh in Haryana. The accused was absconding for a long time and is accused of smuggling more than 15350 kg of sandalwood from Dhamnod Forest Range in Madhya Pradesh.

According to the CBI, on the complaint of the Madhya Pradesh government, the CBI had registered a case on 20 August 2024. Investigation revealed that many people were involved in this sandalwood smuggling racket. Among them, Baktavchalam, B.C. The names of Balamurgan, Thamim Ansari, Shiv Kumar, Rajkumar Sharma and Ishwar Chander Sharma came out.

Charge sheet filed against six accused

After a long investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet against all these six accused on 20 December 2024. Case Dhar went to the court of Madhya Pradesh. The court issued a non-bailable warrant against all the accused. The CBI came to know about Rajkumar Sharma being hiding in Bahadurgarh. Immediately the team raided and arrested the accused, which will now be presented on transit remand.

Why is sandalwood smuggling a big crime?

Red sandalwood is very precious wood, which is used in medicines, decorations and many products in the international market. Its smuggling not only causes economic loss to the country, but also causes serious threat to the forest and environment. This is the reason why the government has enacted strict laws for this.

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