Forest Range Officer trapped while receiving ₹1 lakh bribe
A Forest Range Officer was arrested by the DVAC for demanding and accepting a bribe from a contractor. The officer had threatened to block the contractor's final bill payments unless a percentage of the contract value was paid.
Why it matters
Corruption in public works projects undermines infrastructure development and environmental protection efforts.
Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Wing police have trapped a Forest Department Range Officer while accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh from a contractor on Wednesday.
Sources in the DVAC said contractor Suresh Kumar, 45, of Pallavaram in Chennai, had bagged the contract for digging a trench for 8 km along the reserve forest boundary on the foothills of the Western Ghats from Chinnamalai and Sivagiri in the district to prevent wild animal invasion, especially the intrusion of wild elephants into the ranches close to the forest. The contract was awarded on February 7 last.
Even as Mr. Suresh Kumar started digging the elephant-proof trench, Forest Ranger of Sivagiri P. Kathiravan, 51, frequently pestered him to give 30% of the contract value as a bribe for giving his consent for the final settlement of the bill.
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