NAGPUR: Three more social forestry department (SFD) employees were suspended on Tuesday for their role in the Rs 2.89 crore nursery scam. Those who got suspended include PS Pawar, deputy director Wardha and two plantation kotwals MV Wagh and Navghare, both employed with department's Umred nursery.

Earlier in November last year, three employees were suspended for their involvement in the scam. Those suspended at the time were plantation officer SS Supe, assistant plantation officer of Bhiwapur SR Gupta and clerk Sunil Bandebuche. Supe has been suspended earlier on three occasions.

Deputy director general (DDG) of Nagpur social forestry circle SH Patil confirmed suspensions of the three staffers. Sources said suspension of main accused BA Mitra, who was deputy director with Nagpur, is expected any moment. Eight days ago, Mitra was refrained from taking up his new posting as deputy director of Bhandara.

Pawar is learnt to have committed several irregularities when he was holding additional charge as deputy director in Nagpur between June 2 and September 7 last year. The nursery scam was committed between May and September the same year.

A first information report (FIR) has also been registered against Mitra, Supe, Gupta and Bandebucche at Umred police station. All of them have sought anticipatory bail.

The scam involves transfer of over 10 lakh saplings from small packets to large ones from SFD nurseries in Umrer and Bhiwapur but the work was never done.

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