Shiv Sena MLA Claims He Killed A Tiger, Wears Its Tooth Around His Neck

An MLA from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has claimed that he hunted a tiger 37 years ago and wears its tooth around his neck.

A video of Sanjay Gaikwad, who represents the Buldhana constituency in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, making the claim was seen on social media.

In the video, Mr Gaikwad is asked about the thing around his neck.

"This is a tiger tooth. In 1987, I had hunted it and removed it (the tooth)," said Mr Gaikwad, who is known for his off-the-cuff remarks.

The interaction seems to have been recorded on Monday on the occasion of Shiv Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It was also posted online by Saamana, the mouthpiece of Sena's rival Uddhav Thackeray faction, on social media.

Hunting of tigers was made a criminal offence in the country much before 1987.

Calls made by Press Trust of India to Mr Gaikwad were not answered.