The Tripura Forest Department has removed South Tripura District Forest Officer (DFO) Gaurav Ravindra Wagh from his post, two days after one of his relatives was arrested with a large amount of cash near Agartala Railway Station. The development has triggered a wider investigation into the source and intended use of the seized money.
According to police sources, the cash—amounting to ₹59.94 lakh—was recovered from a vehicle reportedly owned by the DFO. The individual arrested, identified as Rajendra Chintaman Kaklij, is a Mumbai-based relative of Wagh. He was detained by police at the railway station and later produced before a court, which remanded him to five days of police custody until April 29.
Following the incident, the Forest Department acted swiftly, removing Wagh from his current posting. A senior department official confirmed that he has been attached to the headquarters until the investigation is completed. “He shall remain attached to the headquarters for now. He has been removed from his post pending inquiry,” the official said.
In the interim, the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) of Sabroom has been given additional charge of the DFO post in South Tripura.
Police have launched a detailed probe into the case and are examining the origin and possible destination of the seized cash. Officials indicated that several individuals connected to the incident may be questioned, including a forest guard and a driver who were allegedly present when Kaklij was transported to the railway station in a government vehicle assigned to the DFO.
A case has been registered at the Government Railway Police (GRP) Station in Agartala. Given the seriousness of the matter, authorities have decided to transfer the investigation to another unit of the Tripura Police for further scrutiny.
The incident has raised concerns over possible misuse of official resources and is expected to remain under close watch as the investigation progresses.
