Nagpur: A day after the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court blasted the forest department over VIP culture in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), a case of fleecing of a group of 53 tourists from Amravati under ‘VIP Quota’ has come to fore. The links of this fraud reache close confidant of forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar in Chandrapur.
A complaint lodged with TATR field director’s office and later at Durgapur police station, Chandrapur, by visitors belonging to Parivartan Sanghatana, said that they were cheated by an agent Haridas Lande who took bookings for safari.
Parivartan working president Ankush Mankar said a group of 53 members, mostly students and senior citizens, were on tour of places in Gadchiroli followed by Tadoba safari from June 1 to 3. “As online bookings for safari were unavailable on June 3, we contacted Lande, who had put his number online for safari bookings,” said Mankar.
“Lande told us he had good contacts and promised Canter safari for entire group for Rs600 per head. He asked us to deposit Rs15,000 in his bank account as advance, which we did. On May 28, the agent called me and said the safari will cost Rs800. He said bookings were full but he will manage somehow and asked for another Rs10,000,” said Mankar.
The group was to enter Tadoba on June 3 evening but Lande called on June 2 saying bookings for June 3 had been cancelled because a GR had been issued that Canter bookings will need resort booking.
“After flip-flops, the agent finalized our bookings for June 4 morning. We had to bear additional expenses for stay and food for 53 persons for June 3, due to agent’s mistake,” said Mankar.
On June 4, the group reached Chandrapur at 4.30am from where the agent took them to Mohurli. “Lande sent six of us in a Canter to Tadoba. The entry in the gate register was in the name of Shailendra Bais, a local leader close to forest minister. While 18 persons were sent in three Gypsys to Agarzari and Junona in buffer zone. We paid another Rs12,000 for these safaris,” Mankar said.
Talking to TOI, Bais admitted Lande had requested VIP quota for two vehicles saying his relatives were visiting Tadoba. “I have VIP quota and Lande being a local political activist, I offered him. I’m upset for the mess he created with the group from Amravati. There should be check on such fraudsters,” said Bais.
Recalling horrifying experience, Lalit Pawar, member, said barring 24, other members were kept waiting at Junona, Mohurli and Agarzari gates. When tempers ran high, Lande fled from the spot leaving the visitors in the lurch. The agent later sent a message whether remaining members wanted a safari in the evening round under VIP quota.
“Feeling ditched, we lodged complaint with Tadoba deputy director (core). Shockingly, the agent was present in the office premises at that time and called one of the group members for VIP entry. The member shared the talk on cell phone with deputy director, who realized the group was cheated,” said Pawar.
Later, the agent was caught and taken to TATR field director Mukul Trivedi’s office along with the group. Bais also reached there and said it was a police matter. “Trivedi cooperated with us and took a written statement from Lande and advised us to lodge a police complaint. He even asked ACF RR Kulkarni to take Lande and group members to nearby Durgapur police station to file a complaint but the agent escaped,” said Pawar.
ACF Kulkarni said, “I have no role in escape of Lande. I was busy preparing the case papers when he slipped out.”
“It seems some officials, local leaders and agents are colluding to grab VIP quota and make money. When we went to lodge a FIR, police did not accept the complaint as Lande was not there. However, based on a letter issued by Trivedi, police accepted the complaint,” Pawar stated.
Lande said he did not promise Tadoba safari for so many people. “I got VIP quota and entry to the group as promised. Police are investigating the matter and truth will come out.”