Kerkar also said that tests carried out by the WII were 'fudged' by forest department officials. 'I have seen the tiger remains myself. The remains should be sent to another laboratory and the matter handled in a transparent manner,' he said.

Amrut Singh, a wildlife activist who runs the well-known Animal Rescue Squad based in Bicholim, North Goa, and who had accompanied forest department officials as a witness during the 'panchanama' proceedings in April at Keri, said that circumstantially it was beyond doubt that it was a tiger which was killed in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.

'The fur stuck to the boulder showed the place where the tiger was leaning on the rock,' Singh said.

Forest department officials have also begun to question the forensic report, which they say is contradictory to the circumstantial evidence compiled in the four-month investigation.

'The WII took three months to send us a prima facie observation. It's ridiculous. We generally get a preliminary report in a matter of two weeks. Vested interests are trying to scuttle the tiger poaching probe,' a senior forest department official alleged, adding that the terms of reference for the forensic examination were also 'rigged'.