One of the three workers, Saiyad Mohammed Kamruddin, told the officials that Salim brought two of the animals from Mumbai in a blue Maruti Esteem car.

``All the animals were brought by Salim Khan in his own car. I do not remember the number of the car,'' he said in his statement. The other two -- Khandu Patil and Sriram Gautam – also told the officials that the animals were brought five to six months ago but could not say where they were brought from.

While the three of them were charged under the Wildlife Protection Act, the Alibaug Forest officials who effected the seizure told The Indian Express that Salim Khan had refused to make himself available for recording his statement. Officials said Salim and sonSalman, joint owners of the farm, would be issued summons.

If Salim refuses to respond to summons, the Forest Department would then consider issuing a bailable warrant, a senior forest officer said. In Salman's case, the future course of action would depend on the on-going case under the Wildlife Protection Act at Jodhpur but DCF Rajesh Das who led the raid has sent a detailed report on the matter to the Rajasthan forest department.

Under the Wildlife Protection Act, a Deputy Conservator of Forest is empowered to issue a search as well as arrest warrant against violators of the stringent legislation. The Act provides a fine of up to Rs 2000 and imprisonment ranging from two to six years.

For habitual offenders, the fine is up to Rs 10,000 and imprisonment of six years. Incidentally, with as many as three offences being registered against Salman under the Wildlife Protection Act, and a fourth staring him in the face, he could be classified as an habitual offender.