Vigilance seeks prosecution against two senior IFS officers

Bhubaneswar, Apr 17 (UNI) The Orissa vigilance has sought sanction of prosecution against two senior IFS officers, who have been chargesheeted for committing criminal misconduct in allowing largescale illicit felling of trees.

Vigilance sources said they were waiting for sanctions from the Union Government against Conservator of Forest M Gourinath, IFS and Divisional Forest Officer Susanta Kumar Nanda adding that on receipt of the sanction, supplementary chargesheet would be submitted against them.

The Vigilance have already filed chargesheets against five senior IFS officers besides others and registered cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Orissa Forest Act 1972 for allowing private firm Keshari Traders to indulge in largescale illicit felling of green trees by fabricating records.

Senior Forest officers, along with others, have allegedly allowed to lift timber worth Rs 45 lakh from the Kalimela forest to Andhra Pradesh on payment of meagre royalty amount to the tune of Rs 10.20 lakh in contravention of the approved terms and conditions.

The five IFS officers, chargesheeted by the Vigilance, were Conservator of Forest Gourinath, Basanta Kumar Mishra, Ambika Prasad Tripathy, Bhaskar Chandra Mohapatra and Divisional Forest Officer Sushant Kumar Nanda, all IFS officers, Malkangiri Assistant Conservation of Forest B B Biswas and former Assistant Conservator of Forest Sarat Kumar Panda.

Vigilance sources said after completion of investigation prima- facie evidence has been established against 15 forest officials and three partners of M/s Keshari Traders.

UNI