Court grants Czech's plea to get back passport

Siliguri (West Bengal), Nov 6 (IANS) A West Bengal court has agreed to give back the passport of a Czech national who was arrested for collecting rare insects from a national park in Darjeeling.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court of Darjeeling district sanctioned the plea filed by Petr Seapetr who had been arrested under the Wildlife Protection Act on June 22 near Singalila National Park, some 100 km from Darjeeling town, for collecting rare insects like beetles, butterflies and moths without permission.

The court has agreed to give back his passport Nov 10 through the office of the District Forest Officer (DFO), Darjeeling.

However, the court did not agree to return the passport to another arrested entomologist, Emil Kuchera, who reportedly left India by crossing the country's border with Nepal on Oct 21.

Both Seapetr and Kuchera were sent to jail. Later, Kuchera got a three years imprisonment besides a fine of Rs.60,000, while Seapetr was let off with a fine of Rs. 20,000.

Kuchera was later given bail after appealing to a higher court, but his passport was impounded.