Corbett's Whispers of Deceit: A Battle for Justice in the Heart of the Wild

The majestic quiet of Corbett Tiger Reserve, a jewel in India’s wildlife crown, is once again disrupted – not by the roar of its tigers, but by the clamor of a renewed legal battle. An environmental activist, steadfast in his commitment, has alleged that the very highest court of the land, the Supreme Court, was misled concerning a critical probe into alleged tiger poaching and rampant, unlawful tree felling within the reserve's precious confines.

You see, it all revolves around an affidavit, a document submitted to the nation’s highest court. Activist Gaurav Kumar Bansal, known for his relentless pursuit of environmental justice, suggests this official declaration by the Uttarakhand government wasn’t quite, shall we say, accurate. He’s pushing, quite vigorously, for the Supreme Court to reopen and properly oversee this deeply concerning investigation, believing that the truth, the whole truth, has yet to emerge.

Let’s rewind a bit, shall we? Back in November of 2022, the Supreme Court, keenly aware of the brewing storm, had itself ordered a thorough investigation. We’re talking allegations of brazen illegal construction, a scandalous level of tree felling, and even – heartbreakingly – tiger poaching, all centered in the reserve’s Kalagarh range. It was, truly, a dark cloud hanging over a national treasure.

The state government, through an affidavit, essentially told the Supreme Court that the Central Bureau of Investigation, the CBI, had wrapped up its preliminary inquiry. 'Nothing to see here, move along,' you could almost hear them say, suggesting the CBI had opted against filing a formal case and handed its findings back to the state. But wait, here’s where the plot thickens, honestly. Bansal, never one to take things at face value, reached out to the CBI directly.

And what did the CBI say? Well, quite contrary to the government’s assertion, they reportedly confirmed to Bansal via an RTI query that, in truth, the preliminary inquiry was still very much 'under process.' And just for good measure, the activist points out that the whole affair is, in fact, sub-judice before the Delhi High Court. A rather significant detail, don't you think?

It’s crucial to remember the sheer audacity of what’s alleged here. We’re not talking about a few misplaced saplings; no, the accusations include a staggering 6,400 trees illegally felled – a far cry from the mere 163 that were permitted. And then there's the talk of illegal constructions, buildings popping up, apparently, for a tiger safari that was never truly sanctioned. This wasn't some minor oversight; this was a colossal breach of trust, an assault on nature itself.

Such was the scale of the alleged malfeasance that it led to significant political fallout, with then-forest minister Harak Singh Rawat facing suspension – and later, expulsion from his party – alongside former DFO Kishan Chand. Now, with Bansal's latest revelations, he's penned letters to the Chief Justice of India, the CBI director, and the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, essentially crying foul and demanding, once more, a transparent and honest accounting. The question, then, looms large: will justice finally roar as loudly as the tigers it seeks to protect?