Inquiry ordered into poaching bribery claim
DFO orders inquiry after viral video
Korba | Correspondent: A serious case of corruption and collusion within the Forest Department has come to light in Chhattisgarh's Korba district. An officer from the department itself has alleged that individuals accused of illegally hunting a wild boar in the Pasan range of the Katghora Forest Division were allowed to go free after paying a hefty sum.
A video is rapidly going viral on social media in which Deputy Ranger Usha Sonwani is seen claiming to some villagers that the main accused paid a bribe of approximately ₹1.5 to ₹2 lakh to a forest guard and fled the scene.
After the matter gained traction, District Forest Officer (DFO) Kumar Nishant took immediate cognizance of the issue. He has ordered an official inquiry into the entire incident.
The DFO clarified that Pasan Ranger Manish Singh has been entrusted with the responsibility of handling the case, and the strictest punitive action will be taken against the guilty based on the investigation report. He reiterated that the hunting of wildlife is strictly prohibited and that negligence or corruption at any level within the department will not be tolerated.
The entire controversy originated in Kari village within the Lainga Beat, where a group of villagers had hunted a wild boar.
When the Forest Department team got wind of the incident, a squad led by Forest Guard Ram Kumar Koram conducted a raid. While the tools and materials used for the hunt were seized at the scene, the situation took a dramatic turn when the Deputy Ranger's video voicing her grievances surfaced following the operation.
In the video, the Deputy Ranger can be heard stating that she faced public abuse and disrepute because of this incident, while the main accused managed to escape after paying the money.
Meanwhile, villagers present at the scene stated that they had expected to receive a share of the bribe money themselves, which is why they did not initially report the matter to higher authorities.
