Forest staff seize teak worth Rs 1.06 lakh from pickup in Gondia; driver flees in dark

Forest department staff on patrol in Gondia district caught a pickup truck carrying teak wood illegally. Six teak logs, estimated to be worth Rs 1,06,809, were seized from the vehicle. The driver, however, took advantage of the darkness and fled the spot while the action was under way.

The incident took place at around 2 am on November 5. Forest staff were on patrol when they received a tip-off that teak wood was being illegally transported in a pickup bearing the registration number MH 36 AA 4397. Acting on the information, they laid a trap and tried to stop the vehicle. The driver tried to flee with the vehicle, but the forest staff were alert and managed to take it into custody.

A search of the vehicle turned up six teak logs. The seized wood has a total volume of 2.084 cubic metres and an estimated value of Rs 1,06,809. Although the vehicle was taken into custody, the driver slipped away from the spot in the dark. The forest department is searching for him.

The vehicle and the wood have been seized. A forest offence case, number 01/2026/98544, dated November 5, 2026, has been registered under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and further investigation is on.

The action was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Conservator of Forests Pawankumar Jong and Assistant Conservator of Forests S.M. Dongarwar. Deori Range Forest Officer S.V. Dhote-Mishra led the operation. Field assistant G.I. Lanjewar and forest guards S.U. Chavan, J.S. Kendre, S.T. Brahmanwat, A.G. Kangule, V.S. Methalwad and D.B. Kendre took part. Forester Meshram of Lakhani range, forest guard Balasaheb Nishchit and other forest staff also joined the operation.

The forest department acted on a night-time tip-off, laid a trap and stopped the illegal transport of teak. The vehicle and wood are in the department's custody, but the driver has not yet been found and the search for him continues.