The vehicle used by state Forest Minister Fateh Bahdur Singh for campaigning in the Morena district in

Madhya Pradesh turned out to be a part of the forest department project, which was being aided by the Japanese Bank of International Cooperation.

“No vehicle that is associated with the project can be officially used by a minister. These vehicles are meant for field work, as the project covers several districts of the state,” said sources.

Singh was campaigning in the Morena district on November 21, without obtaining the permission of the state Election Commission.

He was also allegedly using two of his department vehicles, which is yet another violation of the election code.

The vehicles were seized by the Madhya Pradesh Police and were later released on a court order.

According to sources, a team of Forest Department officials had gone to the Morena court with the papers of the seized vehicles to get them released.

Interestingly, the Madhya Pradesh Police failed to track the vehicle, which was allegedly carrying the minister during the campaign.

District Magistrate of Morena M K Agarwal refused to divulge any further development in the case.

“Right now I am very busy in a meeting,” said Agarwal, on being contacted over the phone.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, D N S Suman, meanwhile, said that he is still unaware about the incident involving the seizure and the subsequent release of the department’s vehicles in Madhya Pradesh. “When the matter reaches to me, I would certainly look into it. I am still not aware about any such incident.”

This incident has, however, sent alert waves particularly to those departments, which are headed by ministers who are currently campaigning in other states.