ED Raids Ex-Uttarakhand Minister, IFS Officer Over Corbett Tiger Reserve Irregularities

The ED raided the residences of former Uttarakhand Minister Harak Singh Rawat and ex-IFS officer Kishand Chand in connection with alleged illegal constructions and tree felling in the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on the residences of former Uttarakhand Minister Harak Singh Rawat and ex-Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Kishand Chand in Haridwar on Wednesday, February 7. The raids were carried out in connection with alleged illegal constructions and felling of trees in the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

Illegal Activities in Corbett Tiger Reserve

According to officials, during Rawat's tenure as the state's forest and environment minister, illegal construction activities were allegedly carried out, water bodies were created, and trees were felled on a large scale in the Morghatti and Pakhro ranges of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. These actions have raised serious concerns about environmental degradation and potential violations of forest conservation laws.

Disproportionate Assets Case and Corruption Probe

In addition to the investigation into illegal activities in the Corbett Tiger Reserve, the ED is also probing a disproportionate assets case against Kishand Chand. Furthermore, a vigilance inquiry is underway against him in a separate corruption case. Chand, who was considered close to the former minister, spent over four months in jail in connection with the corruption case and is currently out on bail.

Raids on Haridwar Residences

As part of the ongoing investigations, ED teams conducted simultaneous raids on the Haridwar residences of both Rawat and Chand. In the case of Chand, the ED team arrived at his luxurious house in Nand Vihar in two vehicles from Dehradun at 7 am. Chand has held various positions in the forest department of Uttarakhand over the years, and serious allegations have been made against him, including misuse of government funds and making payments to contractors through fraudulent bills.

Suspension and Arrest

Due to the allegations, Kishand Chand was suspended along with a forest ranger named Brij Bihari Sharma. Subsequently, Chand was arrested in Delhi in December 2022. However, he was granted conditional bail by the high court in April 2023.

Raid on Harak Singh's Residence

In addition to the raids in Haridwar, the ED also conducted a search at Harak Singh's residence in Kotdwar. The investigations aim to gather evidence and information related to the alleged illegal activities and financial irregularities under scrutiny.

The ED's actions send a strong message that individuals, regardless of their positions or affiliations, will be held accountable for their actions. The ongoing probes are expected to shed light on the extent of the alleged irregularities and bring justice to those responsible for environmental degradation and corruption.