Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, Oct 3: The Wildlife Department has reportedly stalled investigation into Aru-Pahalgam toll post scam allegedly under political pressure.
On August 31, Early Times reported how the state exchequer is losing a major amount due to corrupt practice of Wildlife officials posted on the toll post.
Rupees 25 are being collected from tourists at the toll post and if a tourist possesses a camera then he/she has to pay additional Rs 100. A foreigner has to pay Rs 50 for himself and Rs 200 for the camera. Bali Bhagat, Minister for Social Welfare, Forest, Ecology and Environment had initiated inquiry into the scam which was first reported by Early Times a month ago.
However, even as a month has passed, the officer deputed by the minister for investigating the scam hasn't yet submitted his report.
"The officer hasn't submitted the report. Yesterday, I had meeting with senior officials and I reminded them and directed them to submit the report without any delay," Bhagat told Early Times.
"Anyone found guilty will be punished and besides it, the staff currently looking after the toll post will be removed," he added.
Behara, (IFS), who was assigned to investigate the scam had gone on leave, but now he has joined back, an official pleading anonymity said.
He said the officer couldn't submit the report due to political interference. "The toll post practice, which your newspaper highlighted, has been going from last many years. Many senior and junior officials are involved in this practice, so it is not so easy to take these people to task as they have links with politicians," he said.
Notably, chief of the Wildlife Department, A K Singh (IFS) is himself in the soup as Vigilance Organization has demanded de-novo enquiry into fund embezzlement involving him and his sub-ordinate officer. |
