The Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment on Friday arrested two forest officials — ranger Gajendra Bahadur Singh and forest guard Rajendra Kumar Verma, both posted in the Luddhauri range of Lakhimpur Kheri — after they were caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000.
According to vigilance officials, a farmer from Gangabehrad village had applied for a permit to fell three sheesham (Indian rosewood) trees on his plot (Gata 1130). The application, submitted through tehsil Nighasan to the divisional forest officer, North Kheri, was deposited at the Luddhauri range office for approval.
Instead of processing the file, Ranger Singh allegedly demanded Rs 6,000 per tree (Rs 18,000) for permit approval and an additional Rs 30,000 to allow transportation of the timber, totaling Rs 48,000. When the farmer could not pay the full amount, the ranger reportedly agreed to settle the deal at Rs 40,000.
The complainant refused to pay and approached the vigilance establishment, requesting a trap operation. A confidential inquiry confirmed the allegations, and a trap team caught Singh and Verma red-handed accepting the bribe at the Luddhauri range office.
Both officials have been booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act at the Vigilance Police Station, Lucknow sector.
