Uttarakhand High Court Condemns State Government and Police in Forest Officer FIR Case
The Uttarakhand High Court delivered a scathing rebuke to the state government and police on Friday, expressing severe disapproval over the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against a forest department official. This action was initiated based on a complaint filed by an individual allegedly connected to illegal mining operations, raising serious concerns about collusion and misconduct within law enforcement agencies.
Court Orders Suspension and Transfers in Vikas Nagar Police Station
In a decisive move, the court mandated the immediate suspension of the police officer responsible for lodging the FIR. Additionally, it directed the transfer of the entire staff stationed at the Vikas Nagar police station. This order was issued by a single bench presided over by Justice Rakesh Thaplilyal, who was adjudicating a petition submitted by Rajeev Nayan Nautiyal, the sub-divisional forest officer of Kalsi.
The bench highlighted that the FIR against Nautiyal was registered at the unusual hour of 12:15 AM on February 26 at the Vikas Nagar police station. The complaint was lodged by Manish Chauhan, who is purportedly linked to illicit mining activities in the region. Describing the situation as "very strange," Justice Thaplilyal questioned the state's handling of the matter, remarking, "What exactly is going on here? You are unable to even protect your own official."
Probe into Collusion with Mining Mafia and Protection for Officer
The High Court further instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to ensure the comprehensive transfer of all personnel from the Vikas Nagar police station. It also ordered an investigation into potential collusion between police officials and the mining mafia, with the bench pointedly asking, "Who is colluding with the mining mafia?" Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, the court directed that all mining activities in the area must cease entirely and called upon the state counsel to obtain necessary instructions from the government regarding this directive.
Moreover, the court sought a detailed explanation from the Station House Officer (SHO) regarding the rationale behind registering an FIR against Nautiyal. This inquiry is particularly pertinent given that Nautiyal had previously filed a complaint against the mining mafia in December of the preceding year. To safeguard the forest officer, the court explicitly prohibited any arrest of Nautiyal in connection with the FIR and scheduled the subsequent hearing for Monday.
Allegations of Mafia Involvement and Previous Court Interventions
During the proceedings, Nautiyal's legal counsel informed the court that Manish Chauhan, along with another individual named Rakesh Uttarakhandi, were identified as the masterminds behind the illegal mining operations. They were accused of facilitating the unimpeded passage of trucks laden with minerals and shielding these vehicles from scrutiny by the forest department. The counsel also presented a video to the court depicting alleged mafia henchmen forcibly removing Nautiyal from his official vehicle and manhandling him while he was engaged in patrol duties.
It is noteworthy that in December, the High Court had previously intervened by staying Nautiyal's transfer. The court ruled that the transfer order violated provisions of the Uttarakhand Annual Transfer for Public Servants Act, 2017, observing that the officer had not completed his minimum tenure and that the order lacked legal foundation. Nautiyal had contested the transfer order issued on December 11, 2025, by the principal secretary of the forest department.
