Punjab and Haryana HC issues notice on tattoo artist’s plea to quash monkey possession case

Six years after tattoo artist Kamaljit Singh was arrested for allegedly keeping a monkey at his shop and circulating its pictures and videos on social media, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to the Forest and Wildlife Department, Chandigarh, on his petition seeking quashing of the complaint.

Kamaljit Singh, owner of M/s Kamz Inkzone tattoo shop, Sector 35, Chandigarh, and his manager were arrested after the Department of Forest and Wildlife received a complaint dated July 24, 2020, alleging that they had kept a Rhesus Macaque (monkey) at the shop and regularly shared videos featuring the animal on social media.

Following the complaint, the Chief Wildlife Warden registered a case under Sections 9, 2(16)(b), 39 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Both accused were arrested on August 19, 2020, for alleged violations of the Act.

In his petition filed through advocate Harlove Singh Rajput, Kamaljit Singh has sought quashing of the complaint and all subsequent proceedings. He argued that the case was based on allegations of keeping a Rhesus Macaque at his shop, but no such animal was ever recovered from the premises despite repeated inspections by wildlife authorities.

The petitioner claimed that the complaint was based on conjectures and unverified social media material, without any independent investigation or supporting evidence. He further alleged that he was subjected to unnecessary harassment despite cooperating with authorities and that no link had been established between him and the alleged offence under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The High Court has issued notice to the Forest Department, Chandigarh, seeking its response on August 6.