DFO assaults senior for refusing to clear ‘illegal’ payments, held

Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 16

The Ambala police have arrested a Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) posted in Kurukshetra for allegedly assaulting his senior, a Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF), as he refused to give approval to "doubtful" files and payments.

The allegations

• Divisional Forest Officer Virender Gill wanted to get a file pertaining to e-tenders of plantations sanctioned
• The value of the tender is alleged to be more than Rs1 crore. Besides, Gill wanted to get some cheques signed

In a development allegedly related to this, the state government has withdrawn administrative powers from Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Amarinder Kaur, who has the additional charge of the the Chief Wildlife Warden and chairperson of the Haryana Biodiversity Board.

G Raman, Chief Conservator of Forests, Ambala, had lodged a police complaint, accusing DFO Virender Gill of "manhandling, committing torture, lowering reputation, using abusive language, hampering the functioning of government work and forcing to do illegal work with threat of dire consequences" in his office at Forest Complex, Ambala, on December 7.

Raman alleged in his complaint that Gill wanted to get a file pertaining to e-tenders of plantations sanctioned from him. It was against norms, he claimed. The value of the tender is alleged to be more than Rs 1 crore.

Raman also alleged that Gill wanted him to clear a file and sign cheques towards the payment of labour "at his own terms and dictates".

The payment amounted to more than Rs 24 lakh.

"When I recorded my comments on the file, seeking more information about the work for which the cheques were to be signed and details of persons who were to be paid, Gill hit the chair and thrashed me and manhandled me by twisting my hand," he alleged.

Gill allegedly threatened Raman of dire consequences including his transfer from the post of the CCF.

"He threatened that if I won't sign the cheques, he would get them signed from the new incumbent," Raman alleged in his complaint.

In his complaint to senior officers, the CCF had alleged that Gill wanted to get the files cleared with the "blessings" of a senior officer of the department, sources said.

On Wednesday, G Anupama, Principal Secretary, Forest and Wildlife, issued an order that "no administrative action will be taken by Amarinder Kaur".

When contacted, Kaur, who is to retire on December 31, refused to comment on either of the two developments.

The police have booked Gill under Sections 186, 332, 353, 506 and 504 of the IPC. He will be produced before court in Ambala on Thursday.

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