Talukdar, the DFO of Dhemaji forest division, was caught while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from three businessmen in his office.
In what is said to be the tip of an
iceberg, the anti-corruption and vigilance department in its first drive
against corruption recovered a cash of Rs 2 crore and a huge number of animal
parts like tiger skins and elephant tusks from one of three houses of a
Divisional Forest Officer in Assam.
The principal secretary in the forest
department Mr Sanjiv Kumar told this newspaper, “The raid of anti-corruption
cell on DFO Mohot Chandra Talukdar has come to our notice. We have already
suspended the officer and the department is also looking into other charges in
which no action was taken against the officer so far.”
Talukdar, the DFO of Dhemaji forest
division, was caught while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from three
businessmen in his office. Sources in the anti-corruption and vigilance cell of
the Assam Police said that they recovered over Rs 62 lakh in cash from his
official residence in Dhemaji district.
Following the recovery of cash, the
vigilance sleuths also raided the house of the DFO in Guwahati and parental
residence at Nalbari. Informing that they are yet to open two digital lockers,
sources in the department said that they have started the process of
calculating and assessing the fixed deposits, land values and other assets of
the DFO.
The vigilance sleuths have also seized a few
vehicles from his residence, sources said adding that some banned animal parts
were recovered from his possession but DFO claims he has licence.
“We are looking into it also,” said a senior
vigilance officer who admitted that it was the tip of an iceberg as there were
allegations of rampant corruption in the state forest department for the past
15 years.
The new forest minister Pramilla Rani
Brahama is believed to have given the go ahead to the department to launch a
drive against the corrupt officers in the forest department. Earlier, a forest
ranger was also placed under suspension.
Representative Image
Source: PTI/ Deccan Chronicle
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