Dehradun, Sep 17: The Uttarakhand government has decided to grant sanction to prosecute former Corbett tiger reserve director in a case involving his alleged role in illegal felling of trees and unauthorised construction as part of the tiger safari project in the buffer zone of the Corbett tiger reserve.
The Apex court had in March last year directed a probe by the CBI into the illegalities committed.
The development comes after the state government was pulled up by the top court last week for denying sanction for prosecution of the Indian Forest Service officer in connection with the Corbett safari probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation which named him an accused in its investigation report.
The state government has now taken a conscious decision to grant sanction to prosecute Officer as requested by the CBI.
The state said that on a careful perusal of the said report of CBI, it was found that the memorandum of charges leveled against the delinquent Rahul requires to be modified and charges for major penalties require to be added.
The state revised its earlier charge sheet against Officer and issued him a fresh one on July 3, 2025 including charges for major penalties. As regards denial of sanction, the state had on September 8 told the court that upon consultation with the legal department, it was found that there was no basis for granting sanction for prosecution.
The bench had remarked on that day, “It is clear you are trying to protect this officer. You come clear on this decision by September 17, or else you are in big trouble.
Let the highest authority in the state know that if somebody is trying to protect this officer, he shall not be dealt with a light hand. Besides the three IFS officers, five other persons were charge-sheeted by CBI following which Sanction was accorded.
|