MP: NTCA seeks report on chicken party' involving MP mantri in tiger reserve

Bhopal: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has sought a report from the chief wildlife warden of Madhya Pradesh on the recent incident in which state minister Vijay Shah along with his friend was allegedly found ‘picnicking’ in Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) in MP.

In a letter (dated December 26, 2023) to the chief wildlife warden of MP Aseem Srivastav, the NTCA said that a complaint has been lodged with it by an activist regarding alleged violation of wildlife Act by the local forest officers of the STR by entertaining Mr Shah and his friend inside STR.

Accordingly, the wildlife conservation body sought a report from the chief wildlife warden of the state on the alleged incident and also what action has been taken in the matter.

The NTCA’s move comes in the wake of wildlife activist Ajey Dubey lodging a complaint with the body regarding the incident seeking action in the matter.

A couple of weeks ago, Mr Dubey submitted the purported video showing a ‘chicken party’ being thrown for Mr Shah and his friend in a core area of the tiger reserve by some local forest staff, seeking action against the minister and the forest officers for violating wildlife Act.

The chief wildlife warden later ordered a probe into the incident.

However, the probe report is yet to be made public.

Mr Shah who was a forest minister in the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has recently been inducted in the state cabinet.