Case against MP forest official for demanding bribe

The Lokayukta police today registered a case against a senior Indian Forest Service officer and his driver for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a subordinate who wanted a transfer.
Superintendent of Police (Lokayukta) Dilip Soni said that after investigating the complaint filed by Indresh Achale, a ranger in the forest department, a case had been registered under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
He said that Achale, currently posted in the Burhanpur forest division, was seeking a transfer to Barwah Forest division and had applied for it last month.

It was alleged that instead of issuing a transfer order, the then Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) of Khandwa circle, Ramdas Mahla, had asked for a bribe of Rs 50,000 through his driver Santosh Sitoke.
Mahla was recently transferred to Bhopal from Khandwa circle, officials said.
Soni said investigations were underway in the case.