Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday recommended the suspension of two serving IFS officers, including Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R. Gokul, in connection with a case filed in the Supreme Court seeking permission to denotify HMT forest land valued over ₹14,000 crore. In addition, he has also recommended action against two retired bureaucrats under service rules.

Mr. Khandre told reporters that the land which is under HMT’s control has not been legally converted for non-forest purposes, and therefore, as per various Supreme Court judgments and the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, the land remains classified as forest.

He added that despite this the land has been encroached upon and real estate companies have built hundreds of flats. Besides film shoots have taken place on the HMT land.

To a question on why no action had been taken in the past seven months since notices were issued to the officials in the IA filing case which was done without Cabinet approval, the Minister said: “A few officers submitted the IA without bringing it to the attention of the then Forest Minister or obtaining Cabinet approval. Notices were issued to four officers (two retired and two serving), and a recommendation has been made to the Chief Minister for further action.”

IFS officer writes to CBI

Mr. Gokul had reportedly written to the CBI seeking protection and claimed that he was being made a “scapegoat” for taking action against Congress MLAs in the Belekeri case.

The Minister denied the allegations by the senior IFS officer and said that on September 24, 2024, he sent a written note to the Additional Chief Secretary, to issue notices and take action against officials who filed the IA without prior cabinet approval.

“A month later, in October 2024, the Belikeri verdict came out. Mr. Gokul, to cover his own misdeeds, falsely accused the government in a letter to the CBI,” he said.

Mr. Khandre said he has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recommending suspension of Mr. Gokul and to order a departmental inquiry against another officer.