The Chief Minister's flying squad conducted a second raid at the Haryana Roadways workshop in Hisar on Tuesday, uncovering the disappearance of 19 tree stumps and tampering with crucial evidence in an ongoing tree-felling case. The raid followed a tip-off about evidence manipulation after an initial inspection on June 26 had already revealed the illegal felling of 86 trees in violation of Punjab and Haryana High Court orders banning tree cutting.
Disappearance of Evidence and Record Discrepancies
During the second inspection, led by Hisar Range In-charge Sunaina and including DSP Vikram Bhadu and forest officers Rohtash and Rajesh, the team found that 19 numbered stumps that had been documented during the first raid were missing from the spot. Stumps that had been kept outside the premises were also removed. The Forest Department stated that the disappearance of stumps from within a government compound enclosed by a boundary wall is a serious matter.
Sunaina noted that during the first inspection, clear instructions were issued that no stump, timber, or other evidence should be removed until the inquiry was completed. She said, "Despite this, the removal of evidence prima facie appears to be an attempt to influence the investigation and amounts to serious tampering with evidence."
Inconsistencies in Departmental Records
The CM flying squad in charge reported multiple inconsistencies between departmental records submitted to the Forest Department and the actual situation on the ground. One official letter claimed that only 40 to 50 trees had been felled, whereas site evidence indicated a significantly higher number. Another record stated that 128 trees had been cut and two trees were still standing, but during the second inspection, no standing trees were found, suggesting those two trees were also removed without permission.
Furthermore, records mentioned that only 10 eucalyptus trees had been felled, but the inspection found 55 eucalyptus stumps at the site. Investigating officials termed this a serious irregularity and noted a mismatch between official records and the actual position regarding the number of felled and standing trees.
Financial Irregularities and Investigation Progress
Sunaina said the first raid on June 26 followed a tip-off and found 86 cut tree stumps and 132 uprooted pole-sized saplings inside the workshop premises. She added that while there was no record of the timber from the felled trees, evidence on the ground suggested the wood had been disposed of. The contractor also failed to deposit the value of the timber into the government account, raising suspicion of financial loss to the state exchequer.
According to the CM flying team, the findings of the second inspection are being matched with records from the first inquiry, and a detailed report is being prepared. The report will be submitted to senior authorities for legal and departmental action against the concerned officials, the contractor, and any other persons found responsible.
