Keonjhar: A purported audio clip of a forester allegedly seeking a bribe to allow a trader to carry off illegally felled trees in Keonjhar district has come to light, prompting an inquiry by the authorities.
In the four and a half minute-long clip, the woman forester first demands Rs 10,000 be transferred to the account of another staffer through online payment. When the trader requests to lower the amount, the forester asks him to pay Rs 8,000. Again the man requests her to lower the amount to Rs 6,000 as they are not getting much profit from illegal felling of trees. Finally, the forester agrees and tells him to deposit Rs 6,000. After sending the money, the trader asks the forester to verify whether the amount is reflecting in the account.
Divisional forest officer (Keonjhar), Dhanraj H D, said, “We will verify the audio clip and take necessary action after due inquiry.”
In the meantime, the DFO has transferred the forester to the district headquarters town.