Sagar range RFO suspended after allegations of violations

Shivamogga: Three days after forest minister Eshwar B Khandre’s direction, the forest department has issued an order for the immediate suspension of Sagar range forest officer (RFO) Annappa B, following allegations of irregularities and forest law violations.

The suspension comes after a site inspection and a complaint submitted to the forest minister’s office, which revealed that hundreds of acacia and other forest trees were illegally felled and smuggled from the compensatory forest area and ‘Soppinabetta’ lands in Malve village. It was also discovered that heavy machinery (JCBs) was used to illegally construct a road within the protected notified forest land, directly violating the Karnataka Forest Act.

The official order, signed by Meenakshi Negi, PCCF & head of the department, highlights a deliberate attempt to mislead investigators. It was noted that while a forest offense case (FOC) was initially registered, the RFO allegedly recorded the location of the crime as being outside the forest boundary to protect the accused.

The extent of the damage was confirmed by GPS photographs and shows clear evidence of illegal road work and massive deforestation. Pending a full departmental inquiry, the officer has been barred from leaving his headquarters in Shivamogga without prior written permission from the competent authority.