MP Forest Department: The factory operator of Haryana, who was absconding for one and a half years in smuggling, arrested, sent to jail on Thursday.

The factory operator of Haryana, who was absconding for one and a half years in smuggling, arrested, sent to jail on Thursday. 

Jabalpur STSF took action instead of Indore STSF. 

The team arrested the factory operator of Haryana, who was absconding for one and a half years for smuggling. The Jabalpur team of the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) has carried out the action. 

In the interrogation, the operator has told the factory to transport smugglers from many states to the wood. At present, the accused operator has been lodged in Indore District Jail.

What was the case?

On January 2020, a case of illegal felling and transportation of forest produce Khair (Cattha) tree came to light from Khiwani Sanctuary located in Dewas. 

Due to the theft of wood from the sanctuary, the investigation was handed over to Indore STSF. 

Six accused were arrested. According to sources, an inter-state gang was also active in smuggling, in which illegal harvesting of khair wood has taken place from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat. 

During that time the officials got information about a factory in Haryana. In January 2021, a Delhi-based transport business caught Vinod Katiyar.

Accused used to make pan masala

During interrogation, it was told that the wood was delivered to someone in  Haryana. It was delivered to a factory. This factory was told by Sumit Khatri. 

A senior leader of Haryana was told to be nephew. Katha and Paan Masala were made from wood. The well-known company used to take this pan masala from Khatri. 

He was an accused in the case. But some STSF officers continued to suppress the matter. 

According to sources, a person named Rohit had also made constant contact with STSF, in which the name of a Bhopal Headquarters officer has also come to the fore. 

All of them were engaged in saving Khatri. 

Advocate Abhijit Pandey had complained in the matter to the Ministry of Forest and Environment. Later, the responsibility of catching the factory operator was given to the Jabalpur team as soon as the senior officers came to know about it. 

The Indore team was kept away from the entire action. Last month, Khatri was arrested by the team. 

Inquiries have come to know about several pan masala companies. Khatri is then brought to Indore Jail.

324 metric tons of wood seized

In the government papers, 50-60 cases have been registered in the last two years regarding smuggling and illegal trade of Khair. 

The activity of many gangs has come to the fore. From November 2018 to June 2021, more than 60 cases have been made, in which both the STSF and the Forest Department have caught the accused. 

STSF has arrested 69 smugglers accused. Further, over 21 vehicles have also been seized. 

Based on the documents, 324 metric tonnes of wood has been seized. According to officials, the figure is even higher.

STSF spokesperson Rajnish Singh said that the team of Jabalpur arrested Sumit Khatri and interrogated him. These days he is in jail. The trial in the case related to smuggling is going on in the court.