Narmadapuram: An environmental activist in Madhya Pradesh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding action against senior forest officials for allegedly covering up a multi-crore illegal logging scam in the Narmadapuram forest division. The activist, Madhukar Chaturvedi, claims that officials responsible for the destruction of valuable forests are not only being protected but also promoted.
Chaturvedi has alleged a complete failure of local forest authorities to act on repeated complaints regarding the illegal felling of precious teak trees. He stated that instead of penalizing the officials found guilty in a high-level inquiry, the department rewarded them with promotions, prompting his appeal to the Prime Minister’s Office for intervention.
Letter to the Prime Minister
In his letter, Chaturvedi detailed the specific incident of November 2024 in the RF112 Chhipikhapa beat of the Narmadapuram division, where teak trees worth crores were illegally cut. He claims that local CCF, DFO, and SDO level officers attempted to hide the extent of the damage.
“Despite an inquiry by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Conservation) confirming the destruction in a report sent to the government in November 2024, the state has failed to suspend or punish any negligent official. Instead, SDO Mansingh Maravi, who concealed the deforestation, was promoted to the post of DFO. If these officials are not dismissed, it will set a poor precedent for forest protection efforts across the state.” — Madhukar Chaturvedi
He added that the failure to punish those responsible for the loss of 1,256 trees raises serious questions about the commitment and integrity of senior departmental officials.
Investigation Reveals Massive Losses
An investigation by the state-level flying squad of the Forest Department’s conservation branch in September 2025 revealed the illegal felling of around 1,300 teak trees in the Chhipikhapa beat. The financial loss to the government was estimated at ₹2.13 crore.
Chaturvedi blames the ‘unwise’ posting decisions by Narmadapuram DFO Mayank Gurjar for the situation. He points out that after the transfer of forester Rajendra Nagvanshi in March 2024 due to a Lokayukta case, a full-time officer was not appointed to the highly sensitive beat, leaving it vulnerable.
Allegations of a Cover-up and Staff Harassment
The activist further alleged that senior officials attempted to downplay the scale of the scam. While a loss of ₹1.50 crore from the felling of 356 teak trees was officially recorded on November 29, 2024, a subsequent report on January 28, 2025, from the DFO’s office to the CCF reported a total loss of only ₹2,06,610.
Contradictorily, the department issued hefty recovery notices totaling nearly ₹1.99 crore to four junior employees: Forester Ajay Srivastava (₹72 lakh), Forest Guard Rajesh Sarriyam (₹60.17 lakh), Forest Guard Ajay Gaur (₹65.42 lakh), and Forest Guard Rajesh Yadav (₹1.24 lakh). Chaturvedi questioned the logic of recovering crores from junior staff when the DFO himself reported a loss of just over ₹2 lakh, calling it a cruel and tyrannical act.
Chaturvedi also accused DFO Mayank Gurjar of financial misconduct, alleging that he made an employee pay ₹1.22 lakh for three air conditioners for his residence and later adjusted the amount against false building repair vouchers. He has requested the transfer of DFO Gurjar and his close aide, accountant Sunil Bathore, to ensure a fair investigation and restore morale among the staff.
