In a major operation, the anti-corruption sleuths have recovered about Rs 2 crore in cash and parts of wild animals, including tiger and deer skins, from two residences of a divisional forest officer (DFO) of Assam.
The government suspended the officer with immediate effect, anti-corruption investigators said.
They said Mahat Talukdar, the DFO of Dhemaji forest division, was caught while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from three businessmen in his office.
Later, in a raid at his houses in Dhemaji and Guwahati, the investigators recovered the cash and parts of wild animals.
“We have arrested him after he was caught while accepting bribe. We raided his house last evening. First, we raided his house in Dhemaji and then in Guwahati,” the official said, adding that the searches were still continuing.
“We have seized the amount, his personnel vehicles and other documents and bank passbooks. There were allegations against him that he demanded bribe from three suppliers. Investigating the matter, we have caught him red-handed,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Assam government has suspended Talukdar with immediate effect and ordered a probe against him.
