Belagavi: Acting on credible information, the CCIB police recovered ivory estimated at Rs 500 crores during a raid at a house in Shettigalli rumoured to be haunted by spirits.

The police arrested Saleem Chamadewale, the mastermind behind the smuggling racket, who reportedly spread rumors about the place being haunted to discourage people from going near it.

The police recovered a huge stash of ivory, horns, nails and skin of animals from the place. As per reports the accused was preparing to export these items to China, Gulf countries and Vietnam through Mumbai and Goa.