In one of the country’s worst crackdowns on the illegal trade of wildlife fuelled by superstition, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested a 45-year-old self-styled “godman” in Bengaluru on Friday. The suspect, named Dakshina Murthy, was running an elaborate online business where he sold the genitals of monitor lizards — clandestinely marketed as “Hatha Jodi” — claiming that they had magical powers to fix relationship problems and offer good luck.
The Sting Operation
The initiative was initiated in response to a message from CARE, a city-based non-governmental organisation which offers animal rescue and rehabilitation as part of its work. The NGO members discovered that Murthy was using social media platforms to reach some 25,000 followers. To collect evidence, one NGO member took the role of prospective client, looking for a solution on "love-related problems." Following many conversations on the Internet, the member went to Murthy’s house in Nagashettyhalli and confirmed the presence of banned wildlife articles. This information was immediately relayed to DRI, which launched a rapid raid on the building.
Chilling Discoveries and Seizures
Amid the raid, the scale of the illegal inventory shocked authorities and brought attention to the smuggling operation. Among the items seized from the police were:
- 206 Monitor Lizard Genitals: These are called hemipenes and are typically dried and sold as “Hatha Jodi,” a rare plant root, to deceive gullible buyers.
- 1.5 Kilograms of Soft Coral: Sold as talismans for luck and prosperity.
- A Tiger Skin: A luxury item revealing greater connections to poaching networks.
- Ritualistic Paraphernalia: Items used in performing “black magic” rituals, captured on tape and uploaded to the accused’s social media account to entice desperate clients.
The "Hatha Jodi" Deception
Monitor lizards have a status as regulated animals as tigers under Schedule I Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The trade in “Hatha Jodi” is an especially vicious scam. Poachers burn the lizards alive, where they must project their genitals apart and then hack their genitals off while they sun-dry the genitals. The resulting shape is reminiscent of “clasped hands,” a sacred root that quacks and occultists say comes from the Himalayas. These items were reportedly sold for around ₹10,000 per piece by Murthy. Investigators told them he got his "stock" from networks in the Hakki Pikki community in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere in regional poaching hubs.
Legal Action
Dakshina Murthy has been booked under several sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The seized objects were handed over to officials at Bannerghatta Biological Park for forensics. The DRI is currently trying to track the larger supply chain of it and locate other individuals involved in the nationwide network.
