Whistle-blower writes to the PM seeking action against the PMO officials

Through an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Sanjiv Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer of 2002 batch, had sought certain information from the Prime Minister’s Officer (PMO) regarding the ‘proposed’ CBI probe into the multi-crore plantation scam in Haryana unearthed by him in 2009 during his posting in Haryana. He sought information relating to documents and file notings on meetings of the officers of the ministries of personnel and environment that took place in the PMO on the issue of recommending a CBI inquiry into the plantation scam. In November 2013, the First Appellate Authority directed the PMO to provide the relevant information which he is yet to receive.

Now, he has written a letter to the PM in the private capacity as citizen of India stating, “This is a very unfortunate situation where officers of your own office are involved in blatant violation of one of the flagship legislations (RTI Act) of your tenure, which has always been projected by your good self as the most significant achievement of your government ...... However, in the process, these officers of your esteemed office have simply made a mockery of the RTI Act, 2005, for which, they should be properly punished.”

While being posted as divisional forest officer in Jhajjar in January 2009, Chaturvedi had unearthed a plantation scam where funds from international donor agencies were allegedly siphoned in the name of plantation which existed only on paper. On enquiry, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and found it as a fit case to be investigated by CBI. In November 2012, Chaturvedi had moved the Supreme Court to implement the inquiry report and order a CBI inquiry into the matter. Chaturvedi alleged that some PMO officials were concealing information linked to the ‘proposed’ CBI probe into the plantation scam in Haryana unearthed by him during his posting in the state in 2009. He claimed that the disclosure would lead to fixing of responsibility of politicians and bureaucrats in many corruption cases in Haryana. 

He has demanded inquiry against concerned PMO officials and has forwarded the copy of his letter to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) seeking protection for himself under the statutory provisions related to protection of whistleblowers. He is currently posted as the chief vigilance officer of AIIMS.