Maharashtra: Range Forest Officer Under ACB Radar for Bribery, Rs 1.3 Crore Cash and Gold Seized

Mumbai, 26th December 2024: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Palghar has uncovered a massive corruption case involving a Range Forest Officer, Sandeep Chaure, following a raid at his residence in Mira Road. Officials seized Rs 1.3 crore in cash, 570 grams of gold valued at approximately Rs 30 lakh, and property documents for two houses—one in Navi Mumbai and another in Beed district.

Chaure has been accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 20 lakh to release a 7,000-sq-ft plot that had been seized by the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) Forest Department. According to the ACB, the plot in question reportedly fell under SGNP’s jurisdiction.

An official from the ACB explained, “The complainant, a 51-year-old man, approached us on December 18, alleging that Chaure demanded Rs 20 lakh to provide a favorable report and release the seized land. Based on the complaint, we set up a trap to catch the accused while he was supposed to collect the first installment of the bribe in Vasai East.”

However, Chaure did not show up at the collection point, and one of his associates, Chandrakant Patil, fled the scene in his car. Patil remains at large, but his vehicle has been seized. The identity of a third accomplice in the case is yet to be determined.

The ACB conducted an overnight search at Chaure’s rented residence, leading to the discovery of the cash, gold, and property documents. Officials have confirmed that no arrests have been made yet, and investigations are ongoing.

Environmental activist Deepak Rao commented on the larger issue of encroachment and corruption in Vasai taluka. “This area includes ecologically sensitive zones like the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, wetlands, and mangroves. There have been numerous complaints about deliberate oversight by certain officers, allowing encroachments to go unchecked,” he said.

In a related development, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently directed the Palghar district collector to address allegations of environmental violations, including illegal dumping of construction debris and encroachments in Vasai taluka.

The ACB’s crackdown on Chaure and his associates highlights ongoing concerns about corruption within government departments and its impact on environmental conservation efforts.