Kejriwal urges LG to ask police to expedite probe

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to expedite the police investigation into the issue of alleged illegal felling of trees at the Delhi Golf Club. In July, nearly 900 logs were found buried at the elite club that were reportedly cut without permission from authorities.

Out of the 895 logs, 424 big logs were found. Some were in a decayed state, indicating that they were buried some time ago, while some appeared to have been freshly cut, an official said. A report in the matter by the Forest Department was submitted to the Nizamuddin Police Station and was recently transferred to the Crime Branch. Kejriwal, in a letter to Baijal, requested his intervention to "expeditiously conclude the police investigation in the matter to ensure that offenders are brought to book".

He claimed the Delhi Police was not taking the matter seriously. "The Delhi Police should have taken the matter seriously and investigation should have been completed, but it appears that the matter has been brushed under the carpet," he claimed. Kejriwal enclosed a copy of the Forest Department report in the matter.

Noting that such a serious offence could not be allowed to go unpunished, he said illegal felling of trees in the club premises was not only an environmental damage issue, but also an offence under damage to public property. "The complainant has pointed out that several influential people, including three former Union home secretaries, two former police commissioners and several serving Delhi Police officers were members of the club, along with the current Union home secretary. Therefore the complainant has an apprehension that no investigation will be carried out," he added.