Raipur:
Officials said the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) and the Anti -Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer on Thursday, who leaves bonus funds in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh regarding the massive misconduct of the tandu, the officials said.
Prosecution Deputy Director Mithilesh Verma confirmed the arrest, identifying the officer as Ashok Kumar Patel, who was the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sukma at the time of alleged irregularities.
According to Mr. Verma, Patel was produced before Neeraj Sharma, a Special Court Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act), who sent the officer to six days police custody by 23 April.
The accused officer is accused that he withdrew about Rs 7 crore, which was aimed at payment for Tandu Leaf collectors.
Mr. Verma said that the misuse was done because the funds were not deposited to the beneficiaries who did not have bank accounts, so that money could be diverted.
Tendu leaves are a major forest products in Chhattisgarh and are often collected by tribal forest dwellers under the purchase schemes operated by the state.
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