Served notice to appear for enquiry

Gundlupet: Forest Department has served a notice on Kannada actor Dhanveer Gowda for allegedly putting a video clipping of a night safari in Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Thursday. He has been asked to appear before an enquiry today failing which a First Information Report (FIR) will be filed for violation of rules.

In fact, night safari has been banned in Bandipur forest following an appeal by animal lovers contending that allowing people inside the forest after dark will cause irritation to wild animals. Since then no one is allowed inside the forest except for Forest Department personnel for patrolling.

According to information available here, Dhanveer Gowda, who made a big-screen debut in 2019 through ‘Bazaar,’ a Kannada movie, came to Bandipur on Thursday at 5 pm and went for safari from Melukamanahalli counter in a jeep. 

While returning from Bolagudda Road side towards the reception, they spotted a tiger at around 6.30 pm. Since it was dark, the safari vehicle driver reportedly switched on head light to help the actor and his friends to videograph tiger in mobile phone. 

Dhanveer and his friends have put two video clipping on social media platform on the same day claiming that they spotted tiger during night safari.

Actor slammed

Once it appeared in social media, animal lovers took the Forest Department to task for allowing the actor for night safari when it has been banned for all. 

The higher-ups were baffled when media started showing the video clipping of night safari by the actor. 

Sensing trouble, Dhanveer removed the video from the social media platform. 

They wanted to know why the light was switched on focusing at the tiger despite knowing that it will affect its privacy. The actor has showed ‘heroism’ inside the forest and has videographed of him touching and kissing the elephants in the Jumbo camp, and also of elephant ride.

GPS reveals truth

The Department has installed the Global Positioning System (GPS) on all vehicles used in Bandipur Tiger Reserve to locate its movement.

While examining, the officials came to know that the vehicle in which Dhanveer and his friends went in the safari had returned 15 minutes late. The videograph of tiger had been done between 6.28 pm and 6.31 pm. The safari jeep had returned to the counter at 6.40 pm. 

Treating it as an evidence, the Department has decided action against the actor and served notice on him directing him for his personal appearance before the officials for an enquiry.

We are enquiring about the Kannada actor going on night safari in Bandipur Tiger Reserve. If it is true, Police complaint will be lodged against the actor, said T. Balachandra, CF and Field Director, Bandipur Tiger Project.