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Kerala’s Forest department has suspended two officers following an investigation by the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) which purportedly uncovered evidence of bribery involving contractors working on infrastructural development projects.
Rajesh Ravindran, Principal Chief Forest Conservator and Head of Forest Force, issued the suspension orders for Vallakadavu range forest officer Arun K. Nair and Thekkady range forest officer K.E. Sibi. The suspension is pending a further inquiry in connection with the incriminating findings.
The VACB’s Statewide raids undertaken as part of Operation Vanaraksha across 71 forest range offices exposed a pattern of widespread irregularities and a close nexus between a section of forest officials and contractors.
The Vallakadavu range forest officer is accused of accepting bribes totalling ₹72.8 lakh between June and September, which was allegedly transferred to him and his relatives in multiple instalments by a contractor. The officer also purportedly instructed the contractor to transfer ₹1.36 lakh to an establishment in Kochi.
The Thekkady range forest officer is accused of receiving ₹31.08 lakh from the same contractor, along with a further ₹1.95 lakh from two other contractors. These payments were allegedly made directly, through middlemen and UPI transactions.
Officers’ contention
The suspended officers, however, maintained that the amounts were advanced to the contractors to expedite the completion of infrastructure projects. They claimed that they were repaid the same sums once the respective bills were cleared.
Published – September 30, 2025 02:17 pm IST
