SGNP Forest guard's dead body unearths questions

The dead body of a 30-year-old forest guard from Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) was fished out from Tulsi lake on Thursday morning. However, the incident has raised several questions after investigations suggested that a few forest guards, including the deceased, were partying on the banks of the lake after which they went for a swim on Wednesday night.

As per officials from SGNP, around 9.30 am some forest labourers who were walking near Tulsi lake saw the body of Swastik Katkar floating.

Shripad Kale, senior police inspector of Mulund police station in a statement said, "As per investigations, Katkar along with other forest guards and a few friends were partying at around 10 pm after which they went for a swim during which he drowned."

Police officials claim that Katkar is a resident of Yavatmal and his body has been sent for post-mortem at Rajawadi hospital and the police are carrying out a detailed enquiry.

Sources from SGNP claimed that the incident has raised several eyebrows as the forest department staff was allegedly consuming alcohol and partying on the banks of the lake which is a core forest area. "The role of those who were with him will also be investigated as it is still not clear how Katkar drowned and if he did in the presence of others then why no alarm was raised," said a senior SGNP official.

As per Katkar's fellow forest guards, he was planning to apply for MPSC exams and was also thinking of getting married next year.