A forest guard in Palghar has alleged that she was threatened by a Forest Department official after refusing to delete footage that purportedly shows a staffer in plain clothes removing mangrove saplings in Chikhla village. The allegation has prompted a police complaint and an inquiry by the Forest Department.

Video at centre of complaint

Forest Guard Shital Vide, posted at the Chikhla beat under the Mangroves Forest in Palghar district, filed a complaint at Gholvad police station on October 6 against Forest Department official Rajendra Shelar, alleging that he threatened her over the footage. According to her complaint, Vide recorded a video on October 6 at Gat No. 214/7/2 in Chikhla village. The footage allegedly shows a person in plain clothes, identified by her as a Forest Department staffer, removing young mangrove saplings planted on the plot. Vide alleged that she was asked to delete the footage at around 11.55 pm. She said she refused and retained the video.