Neha Srivastava, the DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) of the Forest Department in Balaghat district, has accused Congress MLA Anubha Munjare of seeking bribe. The DFO has written a letter to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF). He said that the MLA from 2 to 3
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In the complaint letter, the DFO also accused the Congress MLA of obstructing and forcing government work. The Forest Department has ordered an inquiry in this matter. The MLA has dismissed the allegations and claimed to claim defamation on the DFO.
DFO Neha Srivastava.
Called to meet in rest house and asked for money According to DFO Neha Srivastava, on August 16, he was called to meet the MLA at the Forest rest house. The DFO alleged that the MLA demanded a bribe of Rs 2-3 lakh from him during this period. On refusal, he and his family used abusive language and also threatened to remove them from the district.
The DFO said that the incident took place in the verandah of the forest rest house, where other departmental employees were also present. He has also written in his letter that the MLA has made derogatory remarks for all IFS officers of Balaghat.
DFO office of Balaghat
MLA said- I will claim defamation MLA Anubha Munjare, on the other hand, dismissed these allegations outright. He has said to claim defamation, calling the DFO allegations as a light mentality. The MLA says that DFO is doing all this to save her husband Adhar Gupta, who is posted in South General Forest Division Balaghat.
The MLA alleged that action should have been taken against the DFO’s husband in the case of the death of a female tiger in Sonewani, Lalbarra. He says that the whole matter is an attempt to divert attention from the case of tiger death. The MLA also said that if any action is taken against him, she will flee a fast.
Government formed committee for investigation Following this dispute, the Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh Government has formed a two -member team to investigate the incident. The team consists of Kamalika Mohanta (Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, 1997 batch) and Anjana Suchita Tirkey (Forest Conservator, 2010 batch). The team has been directed to complete the investigation within two weeks and submit its report to the state government.
