ITANAGAR, AUG 29:
A complaint has been lodged with the Arunachal Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) seeking registration of an FIR against a senior forest department official over alleged misappropriation and diversion of Rs 3 crore sanctioned for an eco-tourism project at Balemu in West Kameng district.
The complaint, submitted by social activist Chopa Cheda to the ACB superintendent of police on August 24, accused Vineet Kumar Jawal (IFS), then divisional forest officer (DFO) of Khellong forest division and currently the chief executive officer of CAMPA, of irregularities in handling the funds in 2022.
According to the complaint, the Khellong forest division floated a tender on March 22, 2022, for an“Eco Tourism Project at Balemu” at an estimated cost of Rs 2.94 crore. The work was subsequently awarded to M/s G R N Enterprises for Rs 2,93,95,601.
Citing records obtained under the Right to Information Act (RTI), Cheda alleged that cheque No. 0017543 dated March 24, 2022, for Rs 3 crore was drawn in favour of “Self” and carried Jawal’s signature. A certificate from the DFO’s office, annexed to the complaint, also reportedly records an entry of Rs 3 crore against “Self” for the project.
The complainant questioned why an amount higher than the accepted tender value was allegedly withdrawn by Jawal when the work had been awarded to a private contractor.
The complaint also cited an October 14, 2024 communication purportedly submitted by G R N Enterprises proprietor Rinchin Norbu, stating that although the project had been awarded to his firm and work had substantially progressed, no payment or bill relating to the tender had been received till then.
Cheda claimed the apparent discrepancy between the alleged withdrawal in 2022 and the contractor’s assertion in 2024 warranted an investigation into the utilisation and ultimate destination of the funds.
An inspection conducted by the Range Forest Officer, Amartola Forest Range, on July 22, 2025, meanwhile, found several components of the project incomplete.
According to the inspection report, the main structure comprising eight buildings with 16 rooms, 10 halls and two rooms with attached kitchens had been constructed, but electricity connection, plumbing, sanitary installations, doors and windows, internal pathways, furnishing and drainage remained incomplete. Septic tanks and the boundary wall were also absent.
The report described the facility as “currently unfit for use” and requiring urgent attention.
Cheda, who is also the president of Arunachal Publishers & Broadcasters Guild (APBG), has sought registration of an FIR and investigation into the alleged misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and diversion or siphoning of government funds.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Rinchin Norbu, the proprietor of M/s G R N Enterprises, confirmed the sequence of events and said that although his firm had been awarded the contract, it had not received any payment for the work.
“I tried to contact him (Jawal) several times but received no response. Later, I came to know that the money had already been withdrawn, while my firm received nothing,” Norbu said, adding that he had submitted all the relevant documents to the DFO’s office.
The complaint comes a week after the APBG sought Jawal’s removal or transfer as CAMPA CEO, citing a possible conflict of interest while a departmental inquiry examines separate alleged irregularities in CAMPA works undertaken during his tenure as Khellong DFO.
Those allegations relate to NPV and compensatory afforestation works under CAMPA APO 2020-21, including works worth around Rs 89.89 lakh in Pakke Kessang district. APBG has alleged that some plantation works shown as executed could not be established during field inspection.
The Guild has stressed that the allegations have not been conclusively established and that it was not prejudging Jawal’s guilt or innocence. It has sought preservation of records and an independent, time-bound investigation.
Cheda claimed that no action had so far been taken by the chief secretary on the Guild’s representation and the ACB was yet to register his complaint.
Efforts to contact Jawal through phone calls and WhatsApp messages for his comment were unsuccessful.
