UpdateBot at 04:29, 22 June 2022

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{{Short description|Multi-crore fake plantation scam}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox court case
| name = Haryana Forestry scam case
| court = [[Supreme Court of India]]
| image = Emblem_of_the_Supreme_Court_of_India.svg
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| caption =
| full name = Haryana Forestry scam case
| date decided =
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| prior actions =
| subsequent actions = [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] inquiry
| opinions =
| keywords = [[List of scandals in India|Political scams in India]]
}}
[[File:Bhupinder_Singh_Hooda_in_WEF,_2010.jpg|thumb|Bhupinder Singh Hooda in 2010]]

'''Haryana Forestry scam case''' is a multi-crore fake plantation scam allegedly involving [[Bhupinder Singh Hooda]], [[Kiran Chaudhary]] and others where government money was [[Embezzlement|embezzled]].<ref name=chor15/> In 2009, this scam was exposed by the whistleblower, [[Sanjiv Chaturvedi]],<ref name=chor16>[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/haryana-forest-scams-cbi-lens-on-bhupinder-singh-hooda-89214-2012-01-11 Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda may face CBI heat over forest scams], [[India Today]]. 11 Jan 2012.</ref> [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]]-winner<ref name=ram1>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/centres-appraisal-rating-for-magsaysay-award-winning-civil-servant-zero-sanjiv-chaturvedi-4525448/ Centres appraisal rating for magsaysay award winning civil servant zero Sanjiv haturvedi], [[Indian Express]].</ref> [[Indian Forest Service]] officer with then Government of Haryana, who filed a case in September 2012 to seek Supreme Court's instructions to CBI to investigate the case.<ref name=chor15/> Earlier, Haryana Government had suspended him in 2007 for acting against illegal felling of trees and poaching in [[Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary]], but his suspension was revoked by the President in 2008 and the chargesheet was overturned in 2011 on an appeal against the decision of Haryana government.<ref name=chor15/> An inquiry committee of the [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change|Ministry of Environment & Forest]] (MoEF) found Chaturvedi's allegations against Haryana government true, preferred an inquiry by Central Vigilance Commission and by CBI into dubious role of certain highly placed politicians and civil servants.<ref name=chor15/><ref name=chor16/> CBI, in its reply to CVC, found Chaturvedi's allegations against then Haryana Government creditable enough for an independent inquiry.<ref name=chor15/> As per the rules, CBI can not undertake [[suo motu]] investigation, only state government, high court or supreme court can ask CBI for it.<ref name=chor15/>

There are a total of 6 CBI cases and several other vigilance department investigations against Hooda underway.<ref name=chor5>[https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/punjab-and-haryana/chandigarh/bhupendra-singh-hooda-to-face-cbi-probe-in-two-more-cases/articleshow/63288447.cms Hooda under investigation by CBI in several cases], [[Navbharat Times]], 13 Mar 2018.</ref> [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] is investigating several scams, mostly related to illegal land grab, that took place during his rule in Haryana. These investigations include the [[Gurugram-Manesar IMT land scam]], [[Robert Vadra DLF land grab scam]], [[Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam]], [[Sonepat-Kharkhoda IMT land scam case]], [[Garhi Sampla Uddar Gagan land scam]], [[Panchkula-HUDA Industrial plots allotment scam]], [[AJL-National Herald Panchkula land grab scam]] and [[Haryana Raxil drug purchase scam]]. He has been already [[chargesheet]]ed in the Manesar-Gurugram land scam, while other cases are still under investigation (c. March 2018).<ref name=chor1>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/cbi-to-probe-two-more-hooda-govt-land-deals/557679.html CBI to probe two more Hooda govt land deals], [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]], 14 March 2018.</ref><ref name=chor5/>

==Details==
===Modus of scam===
While posted at Fatehbad, the Forests officer [[Sanjiv Chaturvedi]] accused the Congress [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] Prahlad Singh Gillakhera of corruption in a herbal park establishment project. He alleged that Gillakhera's relatives were buying rare trees for their personal gardens with the taxpayers' money.<ref name="Tehelka_Good">{{cite journal |url=http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ne260211Coverstory_3.asp |title=No Sanctuary for Good Men |journal=Tehelka |date=26 February 2011 |issue=8 |volume=8 |author=Yamini Deenadayalan }}</ref><ref name="rediff_punished_2012">[http://www.rediff.com/news/special/in-haryana-you-are-punished-if-you-fight-corruption/20120629.htm In Haryana, you are punished if you fight corruption!]</ref><ref name="IT_hounded">[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+clean+slate+for+hounded+officer.-a0248366559 A clean slate for hounded officer]</ref>

Soon after his suspension, the Haryana Forest Department had started prosecution against the contractors, based on earlier reports filed by him. However, after the [[non-governmental organization|NGO]] [[Ekta Parishad]] moved against the accused in the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] in April 2008, the Hooda Government protected the violators.<ref name="Outlook_old">{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Old-Jungle-Saying/281836 |title=Old Jungle Saying |author=Chander Suta Dogra |date=13 August 2012 }}</ref><ref name="rediff_punished_2012"/>

{{Blockquote
|text=''"The matter was examined and the commission sought the opinion of the CBI on the same. The CBI has now confirmed that the issues raised by Sanjiv Chaturvedi are worthy of an independent probe. The CBI can take up the probe of such matters when notifications are issued u/ s 5& 6 of DSPE Act, 1946 by both the central and state governments"''
|author=Lila Chandran, Deputy Secretary of [[Central Vigilance Commission]]
}}

Haryana government rejected MoEF's request in 2012 to initiate a CBI inquiry against the forestry scam.<ref name=chor15/> Instead Haryana Government issued another charge sheet against Chaturvedi in August 2012, which too was overturned by the President of India.<ref name=chor15/> Haryana administration filed a counter case in the High Court to seek cancellation of the presidential order favoring Chaturvedi and also against the formation of MoEF's earlier inquiry committee on this scam on the basis of [[ultra vires]] (beyond the powers of President and MoEF).<ref name=chor15/> Chaturvedi filed a case in the Supreme Court in September 2012 asking for the CBI inquiry against this scam, where it is still pending (c. March 2018).<ref name=chor15>[http://www.livelaw.in/haryana-forestry-scam-whistleblower-ifs-officer-gets-relief-sc-read-order/ Haryana Forestry Scam: Whistleblower IFS Officer Gets Relief From SC], LiveLaw.in, 22 Feb 2018.</ref>

Whistle blower, Sanjiv Chaturvedi, harassed by the then UPA administration in several ways,<ref name=ram2>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-centres-rating-for-magsaysay-award-winner-zero-ib-says-diligent-officer-4594621/ IB says diligent officer], [[Indian Express]].</ref><ref name=ram4>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rated-zero-by-centre-forest-officer-outstanding-in-state-4692347/ Outstanding rating of the officer], [[Indian Express]].</ref> which forced him to move the [[Uttarakhand High Court]],<ref name=ram5>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/ifs-officer-sanjiv-chaturvedi-to-approach-cat-after-hc-relegates-petition/articleshow/59414073.cms Officer petitions HC], [[Times of India]].</ref><ref name=ram11>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/hc-relegating-chaturvedis-plea-a-puzzling-decision-say-lawyers/articleshow/59429731.cms Puzzling decision by HC], [[Times of India]].</ref><ref name=ram20>[https://thewire.in/155444/sanjiv-chaturvedi-whistleblower-officer-plea-against-health-minister-jp-nadda/ Sanjiv Chaturvedi-whistleblower officer plea], The Wire.</ref> and involve Prime Minister's office.<ref name=ram10>
[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pmo-steps-in-to-resolve-row-over-whistleblower/article5190661.ece PMO steps into resolve row over whistleblower], [[The Hindu]].</ref><ref name=ram9>[https://thewire.in/212518/rti-reveals-modi-called-health-minister-discuss-removal-aiims-whistleblower-sanjiv-chaturvedi/ RTI reveals Modi Called Health Minister to discuss Whistleblower Sanjov Chaturvedi], The Wire.</ref>

===Current status: Supreme Court===
The case is currently in the Supreme Court.<ref name=chor15/>

==See also==
* [[Corruption in India]]
* [[National Herald scam]]
* [[Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust#Controversies|Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust land grab cases]]
* [[Robert Vadra#Controversies|Robert Vadra land grab cases]]
* [[List of scandals in India|List of scams in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Alleged scams in India}}
{{Scams and confidence tricks}}

[[Category:High Courts of India cases]]
[[Category:Cover-ups]]
[[Category:Criminal investigation]]
[[Category:Corruption in India]]
[[Category:Lawsuits]]
[[Category:Trials in India]]
[[Category:Corruption in Haryana]]
[[Category:Supreme Court of India cases]]
[[Category:Political corruption in India]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress of Haryana]]
[[Category:Ongoing legal cases]]
[[Category:2009 scandals]]
[[Category:2010s scandals]]
[[Category:2009 in India]]

Haryana Forestry case - Revision history

UpdateBot at 04:29, 22 June 2022