ED set to probe alleged forest scam

After the Vigilance Bureau, now the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also going to probe the alleged forest scam worth crores in the state.

According to sources, it has also come to light that records related to the case have been handed over to the ED by the Vigilance Bureau.

In such a situation, there is a possibility that the ED will file another FIR in it. After that, further action will be taken.

The ED had been keeping an eye on the multi-crore scam in the forest department for a long time, just as it was revealed in the case that crores of rupees were siphoned off from posting in the department to selling trees.

Records related to the case were sought from the Vigilance Bureau, which was investigating the case through the court. In the petition, the ED had sought the Vigilance Bureau to provide certified copies of the charge sheet and other documents so that it could start its probe in the case.

The Vigilance Bureau was the first to unearth a multi-crore scam in the forest department after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took over the reins of the state. Along with this, it was told how in the case, from the minister to the officials, they were charging a hefty amount.

During this time, the role of two former ministers of the Congress government, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Sangat Singh, his nephew Daljit Singh, Punjab chief convener Praveen Kumar, DFO Gurmanpreet Singh and Vishal Chauhan, among others, came to light. They were allegedly indulging in corruption in many ways. Several people have been arrested in this connection, while some are still out of the grip of the Vigilance.