PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Haldwani/Dehradun
In a major action against corruption, the Vigilance team arrested a senior horticulture inspector in Kichha in Udham Singh Nagar district on Thursday, while taking a bribe. The action was taken after a complaint was received from a timber contractor.
The complainant said that he had been working as a contractor for the last five to six years and had bought mango trees from farmers in a village near Haldwani. He needed official permission to cut 26 trees, so he applied. The complaint was filed at Haldwani police station.
According to the complaint, all documents were submitted and even the site inspection was conducted by the department. However, the accused officer, Badal Pandey demanded Rs 12,000 for allowing him to fell 16 trees. After checking the complaint, the Vigilance team found the allegations to be true and registered a case in Haldwani.
On the instructions of senior officials, a trap team was formed. On April 9, the team carried out a planned operation at the Horticulture Mobile Unit Centre in Kichha. The officer was caught red-handed while taking Rs 12,000 from the complainant in his office. He was arrested on the spot.
The Vigilance department urged the people to report corruption and share information through their helpline number 1064 or WhatsApp number 9456592300. Further investigation in the case is going on, the department officers said.
