Muttil tree felling scam in Wayanad: Forest conservator faces suspension

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The forests and wildlife department has recommended the government to suspend forest conservator N T Sajan who is allegedly involved in the series of events connected to the Muttil illegal tree felling scam.
Principal chief conservator of forests has recommended the suspension of the officer in his report submitted to chief secretary V P Joy. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will take a call on the matter. The report has found that the officer tried to mislead the investigation and tried to trap officials in the case. Earlier, the forest vigilance department had also given a report against the officer.
In the probe conducted by chief forest conservator (northern zone) D K Vinod Kumar, it was found that Sajan had tried to trap the range officer of Meppadi, who had tried to stop transporting trees that had been illegally cut. Also, a junior official had raised a complaint against Sajan to senior officials in the matter. All these were considered while recommending the suspension of the officer, it is learnt.
The probe by a special investigation team, including the officials from three departments — forests and wildlife, crime branch and vigilance and anti-corruption bureau— are progressing in the illegal tree felling case. However, the chief minister said that the matter has not yet come to his notice. He said that the action by the revenue department by cancelling the good service entry of the deputy secretary of the department Salini O G who had parted with information regarding revenue files on tree felling order under the RTI Act, is the internal affair of the department, which is not under his consideration.