Pilibhit: Two wildlife tourists from Gujarat were allegedly duped by a local tour agent who charged them ₹35,000 online for five safari bookings and a stay at a farmhouse near Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), officials said on Thursday.
According to a complaint submitted by Delhi resident Abhinav Vishwas to PTR divisional forest officer (DFO) Manish Singh, the agent, Gurvinder Singh, demanded additional money after the tourists arrived in Pilibhit. Vishwas, who noted that the two tourists were his guests, stated that the agent claimed extra charges were required due to a shortage of safari vehicles. Gurvinder allegedly collected an additional ₹5,000 from them under the pretext of camera fees for the safaris.
Following the complaint, the DFO wrote to SP Sukirti Madhav seeking legal action. Officials noted that because the matter does not fall under the purview of the Wildlife Protection Act or the Indian Forest Act, it was formally referred to the police.
Speaking to TOI, SP Madhav said, “The matter was referred to the circle officer of Puranpur on Thursday for a detailed inquiry and appropriate legal action against the accused.” Meanwhile, the DFO appealed to tourists to book their safaris and accommodations exclusively through the reserve’s official website or authorised booking counters. “The reserve has not authorised any private tour agent to book safaris or accommodation at Chuka eco-tourism site,” he said.
About the Author: Keshav Agarwal has been with The Times of India since June 1, 2014, currently posted in Pilibhit. He specializes in reporting on forest and wildlife, environment, water resources, agriculture, and the sugar and ethanol industries. He also covers a broad range of other topics, including health and medicine, education, development, and crime.
