Police handed over Gupta to District Forest Office, Rupandehi on Sunday afternoon for further investigation.[break]
It is learnt that the District Forest Office didn´t take action against Gupta due to pressure from Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Wakil Musalmal, while a porter and two other accomplices were arrested for their alleged involvement in the red sandalwood smuggling.
Local political leaders had been exerting pressure on the police to arrest Gupta for his involvement in the red sandalwood smuggling. Surendra Jayaswal, another accused in the same case, has been absconding.
According to a source, the District Forest Office prepared a very weak investigation report against Gupta with an intention to protect him. “But this time the accused will not get a chance to go scot-free as phone call records of the smugglers have also been submitted to the forest office,” added the source.
Police on September 9 had arrested Allauddin Shah, Mohammed Kalam and Raju Gupta of Gorakhpur, a bordering Indian town, with a pick-up van loaded with 578 kg of red sandalwood in Bhairahawa. The District Forest Office has already filed a chargesheet against them.
According to police, Santosh Pandey, secretary of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), Rupandehi district chapter, had been exerting pressure on them to not take action against Gupta and other accused.
SP Rabindra Regmi, chief of the District Police Office, said police have been trying their best to curb illegal activities in the district despite facing pressure from local politicians.
Related story
Police arrest two people in possession of red sandalwood
