The Special Investigation Unit of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had completed the inquiry seven months ago in four of the 11 cases registered in connection with the diversion of Rs 15 crore from World Bank funds meant for a social forestry project.

It may be recalled that the Vigilance had completed the investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds in the construction of buildings in Peppara, Neyyar Dam and Vellarada by overcoming unending hurdles put up by the Forest top brass. The Vigilance had recommended the suspension of seven Forest officials involved in the scam in 1994 itself. But, all relevantfiles, including files containing the preliminary inquiry report, disappeared from the office of then Chief Secretary R Ramachandran Nair.

R Ramachandran Nair was the Forest Secretary who ordered the diversion of World Bank funds meant for planting trees under the Social Forestry project. Surendranathan Achary, the then Chief Wildlife Warden, Agasthyavanam Biological Park holding additional charge of Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), was entrusted with the construction of 115 buildings in the wildlife sancturies.

The report filed by the investigation team had alleged that the purchases were made without following the store purchase rules. In some cases, purchase orders were given to those who quoted the highest rate. It was also alleged that most of the tenders were fake - hastily fabricated by the Forest officials themselves.