After the Punjab Forest Department bulldozed the alleged illegal constructions of Fair Heavens farm of Colonel B.S Sandhu, Sr Director, WWICS, falling under Punjab Land Preservation Act Land of Village Masol in Nayagaon. Col Sandhu’s son Devinder Sandhu released a sting video of District Forest Officer (DFO) Guramanpreet Singh alleging asking bribe from him.
After which two press conferences one after the other were held at Press Club Chandigarh on Sunday. Interestingly Chandigarh Police SHO was deputed there at the spot to handle law and order if the situation arises. For the first time, in the history of any Punjab government, the department held such a press conference condemning allegations of alleged history-sheeter Col Sandhu. Whereas his son stated in the conference that Forest Department is allegedly targeting him and his father intentionally.
DFO stated that the drama and the series of baseless allegations being levelled against the Officers and Officials of the State Forest Department by Devinder is with the sole intent to put pressure on the Officers of the Punjab Forest Department. Also to deter them from taking action against the misdeeds and nefarious activities of Col B S Sandhu, his son Devinder Sandhu, their family members and their accomplices by violating PLPA 1900, FCA 1980, IFA 1927, WLPA 1972 and by committing criminal contempt of Supreme Court order dated 12 December 1996. The whole staff of the Forest Department was present at the conference to condemn the charges of Col. Sandhu.
DFO further stated that the accused wished to deter the department from the inclusion of the name of Devinder and inclusion of remaining sections of IPC and other Acts in FIR No 39/2022 at PS Nayagaon, complete restoration by plantation of forest land illegally levelled for commercial purposes by Col Sandhu, his son Devinder, their family members, and other accomplices, filing of a criminal complaint in local court for forcible violation of PLPA, 1900, recovery of several Rs 5 crore (approximately) from the accused to account for the ecological loss and loss of forest wealth.
As per the record available with Punjab Forest Department, Col Sandhu, his son Devinder and their accomplice are hardened criminals as they have remained behind bars, fraudsters, extortionists, organised land mafia, legal manipulators, convicted of heinous crimes, have many pending FIRs against them, convicted in many criminal cases filed by the department, have multiple court cases, and damage reports pending against them. The Daily Guardian Review possesses a copy of all cases against Col Sandhu.
This action of the department was lauded and a review meeting was held at the level of Forest Minister, ACS to Chief Minister, Punjab, and ACS, Forest Government of Punjab. Strong action was undertaken by the department by carrying out afforestation on the said piece of land on 26th May 2022 to restore the 30 hectares of land broken for purported commercial utilisation by levelling and creation of kacha paths. Stern action was also taken by GMADA authorities present at the site by demolishing the illegally constructed structures on delisted lands owned by the accused.
All the complaints and the illegal press conference against the Officers/Officials of the Department are as per the threats issued by Devinder and his accomplice on 26th May 2022, stated the DFO.
