An investigation by the environment ministry had found that officials in the Haryana chief minister's office along with a cabinet minister and senior state officials had hounded Chaturvedi, a forest official, for uncovering multi-crore scams in his department. It had recommended a CBI investigation into the matter considering the high-profile politicians and officials involved.
Ramesh had quashed the false proceedings against Chaturvedi but not passed the case of corruption and harassment to CBI. He had instead asked Haryana to respond to take action against its own officials and minister. Expectedly, the state government has instead questioned the report's findings. In a departure from norms, the state forest minister has written a departmental order to Ramesh refuting the report and instead questioning the inquiry.
The state government has also sent an official reply to the Centre sticking to its stand against Chaturvedi. After having spent several crores as fine and fee to lawyers to defend the actions of its officials and politicians, the Haryana government is unlikely to alter its stand. Though it has revoked the charge-sheet against Chaturvedi, it claims it has done so against its own judgment. Read the full report here.
Source: Nitin Sethi, TNN, New Delhi.
