CBI questioned former Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat regarding the deployment of controversial former DFO Kishan Chand in the Pakharon range of Kalagarh division of Corbett Park in the name of tiger safari, indiscriminate cutting of trees and illegal construction. In the interrogation that lasted for about two hours, CBI asked many questions to Harak Singh. The CBI, which is investigating the case on the orders of the High Court, had called Harak Singh for questioning for the first time.
Former DFO Kishanchand also arrested
On the orders of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a case was registered in this matter in the Haldwani sector of Vigilance in the year 2022. After investigation, Vigilance arrested accused Brijbihari Sharma and after this, former DFO Kishanchand was also arrested on 24 December 2022. Vigilance has also filed a chargesheet in the court against the accused under the sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. On the orders of the High Court, the case was transferred to the CBI in October 2023. After obtaining all the investigation reports from the CBI, now the accused whose names have come up in the case have started interrogation.
Confidential documents of Pakharo Range Safari handed over to CBI
If sources are to be believed, during the long interrogation, former minister Harak Singh has handed over some confidential documents to the CBI. It also includes the names of some bureaucrats. It also includes the names of some IFS officers. Soon the CBI may also call some of those IFS officers for questioning, who were then posted in Pakharo of Kalagarh Tiger Reserve Forest Division under Corbett Tiger Reserve.
Construction work done without financial and administrative approval
The case of illegal cutting of trees for the tiger safari in Pakharo Range came to light when the National Tiger Conservation Authority conducted a field investigation of the complaint received in this regard. Also, finding the complaint to be true, action was recommended against the responsible officials. Many agencies have investigated this matter so far. It came to light that apart from cutting more trees than the approved limit for the safari, construction was carried out on a large scale without financial and administrative approval.
