Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 02 January 2023
Dr. N P Abdul Aziz, Assistant Conservator of Forests (R&WP) has been accused of embezzling the Labour Welfare Fund maintained by the Department during his earlier posting at Campbell Bay. The Divisional Forest Officer, Nicobar Division on 29th November 2022, had requested the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Campbell Bay through a letter to register an FIR against Dr. N P Abdul Aziz, ACF.
Sources have informed us that an FIR will be lodged against Dr. N P Abdul Aziz very soon and Criminal action against him will be initiated.
However, a month after the brazen embezzlement of funds by Dr. N.P Abdul Aziz was identified, the department sent him back to Campbell Bay on duty-cum-tour for Independent Concurrent Monitoring and Evaluation of Works undertaken from CAMPA fund under the Nicobar Division.
Sources have informed that the ACF after arriving at Great Nicobar submitted an RTI Seeking information related to the accusation levelled on him.
The question is whether it is ethical to send an officer back to the place where he has been accused of embezzling Govt. funds, even when the investigation is pending and the FIR is yet to be lodged.
The ACF during his stay at Great Nicobar Island can tamper with undiscovered evidence or try to influence potential witnesses in the case.
Is Forest Department trying to save the ACF?
Several people who were in touch with Nicobar Times and had promised to provide details of more instances of corruption by Dr. N P Abdul Aziz have gone silent after the officer was sent back to Great Nicobar.
Such action by the Department demoralises honest whistleblowers and encourages corruption. Andaman and Nicobar Administration should take action against the officers involved in approving the Duty-Cum-Tour of Dr. N P Abdul Aziz to Great Nicobar.