The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted its investigation findings to the Uttarakhand government concerning the illegal felling of over 6,000 trees and unauthorized construction activities within the Corbett Tiger Reserve, conducted under the guise of a tiger safari project.
In a significant development, the CBI has recommended prosecution proceedings against five officers allegedly involved in the environmental irregularities. This follows the agency’s formal registration of the case in October 2023, taking over the investigation into the extensive environmental damage and violations of conservation rules.
Prior to the CBI’s involvement, the matter was under review by the state Vigilance Department. It was during this investigation that former Ranger Brij Bihari Sharma and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kishan Chand were suspended and later arrested. The latest CBI report signals the potential for further legal actions against additional individuals.
As part of its investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched its own probe into the matter in December 2023. The ED has already seized assets worth Rs 31.8 crore from former DFO Kishan Chand, and the investigation is still ongoing.
The role of Harak Singh Rawat, the former Forest Minister under the previous BJP government, has also come under scrutiny. Allegations against him are directly linked to the scandal.
The Corbett Tiger Reserve irregularities first emerged in 2021 when a Delhi High Court advocate filed a petition, prompting the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to conduct an investigation. This inquiry uncovered numerous discrepancies in the management of the reserve, including the illegal felling of trees and unauthorised construction projects.
Additional probes, including one by the Forest Survey of India, confirmed the felling of over 6,000 trees. Irregularities were identified in construction activities in the Pakhru range, covering 106 hectares, as well as projects in other areas such as Morghati, Kugaddha, Sneh, and the Pakhro rest house.
Unauthorized constructions, such as an elephant wall, Kandi road, and a residence for the Chief Wildlife Warden, were also found to have been undertaken in the core zone of the reserve. These were allegedly funded by diverting over Rs 215 crore. The investigation has identified several officials involved in the mismanagement, including former CWLW KS Suhag, ex-CCF Sushant Patnaik, ex-Director of Corbett Rahul, former DFOs Akhilesh Tiwari and Kishan Chand, and ex-Rangers Mathura Singh, Brij Bihari Sharma, and LR Nag.
Reacting to the mounting investigations, Anu Pant, the petitioner, praised the efforts of advocate Abhijay Negi for pursuing the case with strong legal arguments, helping tighten the noose around the wrongdoers. Pant expressed confidence that the investigation would restore public trust in the integrity of the investigative agencies and the judiciary.
