Modi minister charged with framing senior

Sources say the CID (Crime) branch questioned Chauhan before filing the chargesheet on Tuesday. He has been booked under eight sections of the IPC, on charges ranging from defamation to conspiracy. The other accused are assistant conservator of forests (Bodeli) Janaksinh Jhala, range forest officer (Rajgadh) Baldev Vaghela, deputy forest officer (DFO) Prakash Valavi, the Mehta brothers and journalist Vilas Soni.

The foresters intercepted a truck smuggling khairwood near Por village and arrested five men and recovered a diary from the vehicle. The diary, which seemed to belong to Patel’s son Sunil, had entries linkiing Patel with the smugglers.

Before this, Chauhan had written to then PCCF D.P.S. Verma, seeking a check on khairwood smuggling. The department had initiated an inquiry but found nothing.

The CID probe the same year began with the arrest of the Mehta brothers. They allegedly named some forest officials, who had paid them to arrange the fake smuggling incident. Chauhan’s name came to light after the agency tapped the phones of these officials. IG-CID Geeta Johri said all accused have been arrested except for the minister.

BJP state president Rajendrasinh Rana said: ‘‘Whether Chauhan will continue as a minister is the CM’s prerogative. The law will take its own course.’’

Two cases were registered against Chauhan in 2003 — for allegedly slapping a station master and following the collapse of the Panchmahals District Co-operative Bank.