Balaghat Congress MLA Anubha Munjare has been accused of intimidation, threats and bribery by District Forest Officer (DFO) Neha Srivastava, who in a formal complaint to senior authorities alleged that the legislator demanded illegal gratification and abused her when she refused.
The allegations have stirred controversy in political and administrative circles, prompting the Forest Department to set up a two-member inquiry committee, which has been directed to submit its findings within 15 days.
In her detailed letter dated August 18, 2025, Srivastava wrote that on August 16, a public holiday, she was called to the Forest Rest House in Balaghat at around 4 pm by MLA Munjare. She claimed that in the presence of personal staff, security personnel and another woman, the MLA directly demanded “two to three peti” (boxes) of money.
When Srivastava declined, saying such demands were impermissible, the MLA allegedly became hostile, used derogatory language, and threatened to “take care of her” by ensuring her removal from the district.
Srivastava further alleged that the MLA extended these threats to all divisional forest officers of Balaghat district, declaring that none would be allowed to continue in their postings if they resisted. According to the complaint, Munjare even warned of launching a hunger strike and protest at Bhopal headquarters to force the administration to accept her demands.
The DFO also wrote that her division does not fall under Munjare’s constituency, but she attended the meeting out of courtesy, believing it to concern official matters. Instead, she said, her presence was misused for intimidation and coercion.
The letter also alleged that the MLA repeated abusive remarks outside the rest house, in front of departmental staff, and made sweeping defamatory statements against all IFS officers of Balaghat.
Srivastava added that Munjare’s personal assistant, who is also her nephew, behaved abusively when she asked him to maintain decorum.
She described the incident as a grave attempt at intimidation, coercion and obstruction of lawful functioning, and requested urgent intervention to safeguard her dignity and security.
Reacting to the charges, the MLA’s private assistant, Abu Shah, dismissed them as false.
He accused Srivastava and her husband, also a DFO posted in southern Balaghat, of habitual intoxication and blamed their negligence for a tiger’s death in the area, for which junior staff were unfairly targeted. He insisted no demand for money was ever made and said legal action for defamation would follow.
When contacted by the correspondent, MLA Anubha Munjare declined to comment on the allegations.
The Forest Department has ordered an inquiry led by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Kamalika Mohanta and Conservator of Forests Anjana Suchita Tirkey.
Their report, expected within two weeks, will be crucial in determining the course of action in a matter that has raised serious questions about the conduct of a public representative and the protection of civil servants.