Submit probe report on charges against Sud by Dec: HC to Punjab

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab government to submit the investigation report into allegations of corruption levelled by RR Kakkar (additional principal chief conservator of forests) against former forest minister Tikshan Sud by December.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab government to submit the investigation report into allegations of corruption levelled by RR Kakkar (additional principal chief conservator of forests) against former forest minister Tikshan Sud by December.

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The petition filed by former wildlife wardens Gunraj Singh Saini and Sukhdip Singh Bajwa came up for hearing before the bench headed by justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa on Tuesday. The petitioners prayed for registration of an FIR by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on allegations against Sud with regard to embezzlement of funds of the ministry of forests.

It was submitted that Kakkar was placed under suspension by the forest department on account of allegations of misconduct in November 2007. However, then forest minister Sud reinstated him later.

The court was further informed that the forest mafia was hand in glove with Kakkar as well as Sud, who were beneficiaries of large-scale corruption and financial irregularities, as reported by newspapers. The case has been adjourned for the next hearing on January 19, 2013.