AMBALA: The police have booked Kurukshetra divisional forest officer (DFO) on alleged charges of obstructing government work, causing hurt, manhandling and assaulting his senior officer on Wednesday.
On the complaint of Ambala’s chief conservator of forests (CCF), G Raman (IFS), a case has been registered against Kurukshetra DFO Virender Singh Gill under Section 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Baldev Nagar police station on Wednesday.
Ambala CCF (North) G Raman lodged a complaint, stating that, “On December 7, 2020, Virender Gill, divisional forest officer, Kurukshetra had misbehaved and manhandled me and threatened of dire consequences in the presence of Ramit of Delhi and Rajat of Barara, Ambala in my office room at Forest Complex, Company Bagh, Ambala City. Virender threatened to get me transferred if I won’t approve the file brought by him and act according to his terms and dictates.”
“Virender demanded the approval of an e-tender which was issued by him in violation of the tender rules. He explained that he wants approval for carrying out of plantation in this month December 2020, but I refused his proposal as it is technically incorrect and environmentally not viable to carry out the plantation in this month. Since, December is one of the coldest months and plantations gets affected by the frost. But Virender persisted and claimed that he used to carry out plantation during December/January in previous years also”, stated G Raman.
“As I was not inclined to his illegal demand, he snatched the file from my hands and shouted in filthy language. Virender gave one more file related to labour payment for approval at his own terms and dictates, and it was found incomplete and directions were given to present the file after giving details as sought. Virender in an act of anger, shouted and leaned on the table, and snatched the file from my hands. He got infuriated and hit the chair and thrashed me and manhandled by twisting the hand. He threatened dire consequences including transfer from the post of CCF, North, Ambala”, further added G Raman.
CCF G Raman told TOI, “I am already conducting an equiry into four chief minister (CM) window complaints against DFO Kurukshetra Virender Gill, of alleged corruption in the plantation."
However, DFO Virender has refuted all the charges, he said, “I am being implicated under a pre-planned conspiracy by the CCF G Raman. I was called at his office related to the file of labour payments which are pending for a long time. There was no discussion on any e-tender file related to the plantation in December. I have not manhandled him or misbehaved with him. This normally happens in the department that senior officials target the juniors. If I am wrong then an enquiry is being conducted, which will clear everything.”