Inquiry ordered into corruption charges against director of Bandipur Tiger Reserve

A farmer’s union, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, alleged that the Bandipur forest department officials have also taken up work, including lantana clearing, fish farming training and purchase of furniture and dust bin without calling tenders. “In some places, money has been drawn without carrying out the work and also, Rs 18 lakh has been embezzled from the CSR fund. These funds were for tree plantation,” the union mentioned in their letter to the forest department.

A senior forest official said, “The inquiry report will be submitted in four days. The team is being headed by Sunil Panwar. There have been serious allegations of funds embezzlement and carrying out works without inviting tenders. There have been protests by the farmer’s union outside the Bandipur director’s office. So, the PCCF (HoFF) constituted an inquiry team.”