In the Chamba forest ranges of Tissa, Masroond, and Tikrigarh, 22 officials and employees of the Forest Department are currently under investigation by the vigilance agency due to alleged irregularities involving millions of rupees in MGNREGA works. Preliminary investigations have raised suspicions regarding the roles of these officials and employees, which may lead to increased scrutiny for them in the near future. The individuals involved include range officers, block officers, and forest guards.
During the vigilance investigation, it was discovered that records, technical evaluation reports, and statements from the relevant officials indicated collusion among these individuals to form a criminal conspiracy. They allegedly misrepresented actual work and materials in government documents, resulting in payments based on forged documentation. The total amount misappropriated and misused from government funds in this case is ₹5,501,782.
Prior to the vigilance investigation, a departmental inquiry conducted by the Forest Department identified irregularities in 32 out of 41 works. The accused officials and employees were responsible for the execution and payment processes related to these projects. These issues first came to light following complaints lodged by a district council member and local residents in 2019. Subsequently, the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba referred the case to the District Rural Development Agency for further investigation into the allegations concerning MGNREGA works.