Vigilance raids DFO residence in Rs 60 Lakh cash recovery case; documents, electronic gazettes seized

In connection with the recovery of Rs 60 lakh at Agartala Railway Station, the Vigilance Department conducted a raid at the official residence of South District Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Gaurav Rabindra Wagh in Bilonia under South Tripura district on Saturday.

The operation began around 10 AM, with a Vigilance team including SP(GRP) Kishore Debbarma, DCM Sanjay Shil along with a big team of Vigilance wing  interrogated the DFO as well as staff members at his residence. Security personnel were also present during the questioning.

According to sources, several items have been seized from the residence for investigative purposes, including documents, CCTV footage, mobile phones, laptops, and a drone camera.

Sources further revealed that the names of a forest ranger from the Rishyamukh Forest Division and a forest officer from the Rajnagar Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary have surfaced in connection with alleged secret financial dealings, along with several others.

It may be recalled here that on Thursday )April 23), the Government Railway Police (GRP) have detained a Mumbai-based relative of an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer after seizing nearly Rs 60 lakh in cash at Agartala Railway Station.

The accused, Rajendra Chintaman Kaklij, reportedly the maternal uncle of South Tripura Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Gaurav Ravindra Wagh, was intercepted on Thursday afternoon before entering the designated platform. Authorities recovered Rs 59,94,500 in cash from his possession, raising serious questions about the source of the funds.

The case has intensified with multiple detentions, including DFO Wagh, Kaklij, a forest guard, and the official driver of the DFO's government vehicle. A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with investigations being jointly conducted by the state police's Special Branch and the Government Railway Police (GRP).

According to police sources, the cash was allegedly packed under suspicious circumstances on Wednesday night at the DFO's official residence in South Tripura. A forest guard present at the time is believed to have witnessed the packing of the large sum.

Investigators revealed that Kaklij had arrived in Agartala from Mumbai by flight on Wednesday but opted to return by train, reportedly to avoid scrutiny. On Thursday, he was transported to the railway station in a government vehicle assigned to the DFO, accompanied by a forest guard and driver. The DFO himself was not present during the transit.

Sources further indicated that intelligence agencies had been monitoring the financial activities of Wagh amid allegations of irregularities in forest department projects. The seizure is expected to add weight to suspicions of possible financial misconduct.

Wagh, a probationary IFS officer of the 2020-2022 batch, is currently serving as the DFO of South Tripura. His alleged involvement has elevated the seriousness of the case, with the Crime Branch, Vigilance Wing and railway police expected to probe deeper into possible corruption within the department.

The Vigilance Department is investigating the source of the large sum of money. There is growing suspicion that the funds may have been illegally accumulated through collusion involving the DFO, forest officials, and other department staff.

However, officials have remained tight-lipped. Both GRP authorities and Superintendent of Police Kishore Debbarma declined to comment on record, citing the sensitivity of the case.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities expecting further disclosures in the coming days.