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Five IFS officers chargesheeted

Correspondent

Cases filed against them in July 2001

CUTTACK: The anti-corruption wing of the Government on Monday filed chargesheets against five IFS officers, including former conservator of forest M Gourinath and former DFO of Jeypore S K Nanda for their alleged criminal misconduct. The vigilance sleuths have also filed chargesheets against 13 other persons, including state forest department staff and timber traders in several sections of IPC, Prevention of Corruption Act and Orissa Forest Act-1972 for their trial in the court of law. Cases against these persons were registered in July 2001 and investigations were in progress.

Besides Gourinath and Nanda, other IFS officers now would face trial include Basanta Kumar Mishra, Ambika Prasad Tripathy and Bhaskar Chandra Mohapatra. While the sanction of prosecution from the Central Government has already been obtained against Mishra, Tripathy and Mohapatra, the same is now awaited for Gourinath and Nanda.

Illegal felling of trees

"Supplementary chargesheets would be submitted against the latter two officers after sanction of prosecution is received against them," vigilance sources said.

Sources said vigilance cases were registered against the forest officials for their alleged indulgence in illegal felling of trees in Kalimela forest and transporting the timber to Andhra Pradesh.

"The officials in connivance with a timber trader — Keshari Traders, allegedly transported timber worth over Rs 45 lakhs to the neighbouring state on payment of a paltry royalty amount of Rs 10.20 lakhs. The officials were also charged with fabricating the official records and cases under section 120-B of IPC were registered against them," vigilance sources said.

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