CBI conducts raids in Corbett illegal construction and felling, registers case

DEHRADUN: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), after receiving probe documents from the state vigilance department a few weeks ago, registered a case in the matter pertaining to alleged illegal construction and felling of trees in the Pakhro range of Corbett National Park on Friday. Following the development, the central agency also conducted raids at the homes of former divisional forest officer (DFO) Kishan Chand in Haridwar and former forest ranger Brij Bihari Sharma in Dehradun.

One of the CBI officers, confirming the development, told TOI, "During the raid, we seized some important documents from the accused officials' homes, which would be included in the ongoing probe." Both the officials had earlier been arrested by the state vigilance department, which was previously carrying out the investigation.

Raids had earlier also been conducted at a medical college and petrol pump owned by the family of former forest minister Harak Singh Rawat, who is said to have been closely involved with the Pakhro project.