Dhemaji DFO sent to judicial custody

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, June 15: Dhemaji DFO Mahat Chandra Talukdar, caught red-handed while taking bribe on Monday, was today sent to judicial custody by a court till June 29. The Vigilance & Anti-Corruption bureau had sought a 10-day custody of the forester, but the court declined the request on "technical grounds" as the investigators could not produce the case diary.

So far, over Rs 2.7 crore, besides around 1 kg gold valued at almost Rs 26 lakh, tiger and deer skin and elephant tusk were seized from the DFO's three residences at Dhemaji, Guwahati and lbari.

Meanwhile, sleuths from the CID and Enforcement Directorate also quizzed the DFO today. The ED is likely to register a disproportiote assets case against the forest officer. Sources said the investigators have learnt that the DFO owns four to five plots in Guwahati. His bank balance and other investments are yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, the Forest department today placed the DFO under suspension and has initiated departmental proceedings.