In a significant development, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has authorized renewed proceedings against retired IFS officer H.K. Singh and sanctioned prosecution against Akhilesh Tiwari, the then Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve Division.
The action pertains to alleged misconduct during the 2013 Forest Guard (Samayik Mazdoor) recruitment at Rajaji Tiger Reserve, as well as irregularities linked to unauthorized construction inside the Pakhro range of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
Renewed Investigation After Prior Inquiries
The Chief Minister directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Ranjan Kumar Mishra, to serve as the investigating officer, with DFO Vaibhav Kumar designated as the presenting officer.
Earlier probes by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) had raised concerns about misuse of funds and violation of forest norms. The ED, under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, filed a prosecution complaint in July 2025 before the Special Court (PMLA), Dehradun, against several accused, including Tiwari, former DFO Kishan Chand, ranger Brij Bihari Sharma, and ranger Mathura Singh Mawdi.
Illegal Construction at Pakhro Range Under Scrutiny
The controversy stems from illegal construction activities in the Pakhro range of the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve Division, where the forest department allegedly allowed development of structures in ecologically sensitive zones without statutory clearance. Investigators believe these acts may have been carried out in violation of forest and wildlife protection laws.
Environmental groups and legal activists have long questioned how such large-scale works were executed inside a tiger habitat under official supervision, prompting successive inquiries by the CBI, ED, and now the state government.
Political and Administrative Fallout
The decision to reopen the case signals the Dhami government’s attempt to reassert accountability within the forest administration, especially after a series of corruption and land misuse allegations in the Corbett landscape.
Officials said the renewed probe could pave the way for disciplinary and criminal proceedings under both state and central laws. The Chief Minister has stated that “no one found guilty of misusing their authority in forest affairs will be spared.”
