Chandrapur : Mohammad Suleman Baig
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken strict action against Rohit Vinod Thakur and Abhishek Vinod Thakur, accused in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) online booking scam. The ED has seized assets worth ₹13.71 crore, including immovable properties and funds from bank accounts in Nagpur and Chandrapur.
Scam Exposed Through Audit
The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve Foundation had signed a contract with Chandrapur Wild Connectivity Solutions, a company owned by the Thakur brothers, for managing online safari bookings. As per the agreement:
- All booking payments were to be deposited into the company’s account.
- These funds were meant to be distributed to gypsy operators and guides.
- However, the Thakur brothers failed to make the payments as required.
An audit report revealed that nearly ₹22.80 crore was collected in the company’s account. However, only ₹10.65 crore was distributed, and the remaining ₹12.15 crore was misappropriated.
Financial Irregularities Between 2020-2024
From 2020-21 to 2023-24, the company handled revenue from:
- Safari bookings
- Entry fees
- Gypsy charges
- Guide fees
During this period, an estimated ₹16.5 crore fraud was uncovered.
Legal Action and ED Investigation
In 2023, Dr. Jitendra Ramgaonkar, the then Field Director and Chief Conservator of Forests, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, filed a police complaint at Ramnagar Police Station after identifying financial discrepancies.
On April 8, 2024, the Thakur brothers were arrested, and the court denied their bail plea. They were ordered to deposit ₹2.49 crore as part of the recovery process.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ramgaonkar also filed a complaint with the ED, leading to a deeper financial investigation. The Thakur brothers sought extra time from the court to deposit ₹3 crore, but before any action could be taken, the ED raided their establishment in Chandrapur on January 8, 2025.
ED Seizes Assets Worth ₹13.71 Crore
During the raid, the ED seized gold, silver, platinum worth ₹1.42 crore, along with important documents. The investigation revealed that the misappropriated funds were used for personal asset purchases and clearing old debts under various company names.
Now, the ED has seized assets worth ₹13.71 crore, and strict legal actions are being taken against the accused.
The case continues to be under intensive scrutiny, as authorities work towards recovering the misused funds.
