Forest dept under scanner for confidential info leak

Officials of the Forest Department are under the scanner in connection with forest guard fake appointment letter case. Fraudsters had sent fake appointment letters to applicants asking them to deposit Rs 12,000-15,000 for the job of a forest guard.

Police are investigating how confidential data of applicants were leaked to the fraudsters. Police have found that the contact number written on the fake appointment letters is still functional.

One of the applicants for the post of forest guard, Rahul Devidas, was overjoyed when he received an appointment letter after applying for the job. It stated that he had been confirmed for the post of a forest guard with the Goa Forest Department and would receive a training letter once he deposits security money.

"I got suspicious as the letter was written in Hindi and inquired with fellow applicants and Forest Department officials and found out that the letter was fake," says Rahul Devidas.

The Panaji police has registered an FIR in the case for cheating and forgery on the basis of a complaint from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

The police suspect the possible involvement of some staff of the Forest Department in leaking data containing names and addresses of applicants.