Archive · 11 Oct 2026
CBI Takes Over Solapur Forest Plantation Scam Probe
The case is about money meant for planting trees in Solapur district.
A complaint alleges that some plantations were falsely recorded and fake work records were created.
The alleged activity took place between 2007 and 2023.
A whistle-blower asked the Bombay High Court to move the investigation away from local police.
The court criticized the police for not making enough progress.
It ordered the CBI to take over the case.
The CBI has registered a case covering several alleged offences.
The allegations have not been established in court.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the probe into an alleged forest plantation scam in Solapur district.
The Bombay High Court ordered the transfer in June after criticizing police for failing to make sufficient progress over nearly four years.
The case concerns alleged fraud and misuse of government funds for tree planting between 2007 and 2023.
Whistle-blower Dadaso Gorakh Chavan had asked the court to transfer the investigation from Pandharpur City Police.
The CBI registered a case alleging conspiracy, breach of trust, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents, and violations of environmental law.
- Who
- The Central Bureau of Investigation is investigating allegations involving officials connected to the forest plantation scheme; whistle-blower Dadaso Gorakh Chavan brought the petition.
- What
- The CBI took over an investigation into alleged fraud and misappropriation of plantation funds.
- When
- The FIR was registered in August 2022; the High Court issued its transfer order in June, with no year specified in the report.
- Where
- Solapur district, Maharashtra; the High Court proceedings were before its Kolhapur Bench.
- Why
- The High Court cited the police's lack of progress and concern that continuing the existing investigation could undermine justice.
- Investigating agency
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
- Court
- Bombay High Court, Kolhapur Bench
- FIR registered
- August 2022
- Period covered by allegations
- 2007–2023
- Petitioner
- Whistle-blower Dadaso Gorakh Chavan
- Previous investigating police
- Pandharpur City Police
- Alleged offences
- Conspiracy, breach of trust, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents, and violations of environmental law