Dandeli: Forest officials recently arrested six persons, who were trying to sell leopard pelt near Ayyappa Temple, in Ambikanagar, at Kulgi Nature Camp, which falls under Kali Tiger Reserve, in Dandeli.

The accused are Chandrakanth Ravidas Poolakar, Akash Dattu Badvankar, Ramesh Dattu Badvankar, residents of Bamanagi, in Jodia taluk, Basheer Ahmed Babusab Masanakatti, resident of Subhashnagar, in Dandeli, and Shreekanth Rama Nujjakar of Birimpali in Joida.

The accused were produced before the court, and judicial custody of the accused extended till October 26, police said.

Tiger Reserve Director O Palayya, Assistant Forest Conservator Y N Munavalli, Kulgi Nature Camp Range Forest Officer Dr Santosh Chavhan, Deputy Range Forest Officer Nurandappa Lamani, Forest Guard M P Patil, Dog Squad Manger Venkatesh and Driver Veerayya Gaddadevaramath were in the executive team.