THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The vigilance department of Kerala has found a huge scam in forest department through 'Operation Bagheera' aimed at the timber depts and sandal depots. The search was made on the basis of information about the scam committed by forest officers and intermediates. Rs.29,660 was not recorded in the cash book in Aryankav depot. Many officers did not appear for duty here and at the dept in Pettikkadu mukku.

151 lot timber was found from Achankolvil depot which was auctioned off earlier. Timber since 2013 was found damaged in Kottayam Parambuzha depot. Vigilance has revealed that the forest officers and intermediates have caused losses worth lakhs for the government. Vigilance also said that the officers sabotaged e-tender which was brought to end corruption.

Officers pass secret information to intermediates about the starting price and reserve price of an auction. If the fixed price is not called by anyone, the forest department has the right to provide the timber to anyone they like. They have used this right to auction off the timber.

It was found from the primary investigation that the timber was auctioned to close intermediates and some binamis regularly. Details about these contractors will be collected and proper investigation will be carried out. Auctioned timber will be kept in the depot and they should be moved within 40 days. The government is suffering huge loss by not moving them.