Chikkamagaluru, 2 April

An official from the Forest Department has come under scrutiny after a video surfaced allegedly showing him demanding a bribe from a farmer who lost areca nut and banana crops in a wild elephant attack.

The video, now widely circulating on social media, appears to show the official requesting the farmer to pay “money for expenses” while assessing the crop damage, drawing public criticism. According to Forest Department procedures, officials are required to visit sites affected by wild animals and prepare assessment reports, which determine government compensation.

The incident reportedly took place in Kanathi village, Chikkamagaluru taluk, where the farmer lost 65 areca nut trees. He is heard saying, “If you give money for expenses, I will increase the number, and you will get more compensation. If you don’t pay, I will record only 65.”

The officer has been identified as Veerabhadra Nayak, a Deputy Range Forest Officer posted at Kanathi Beat under the Chikkamagaluru Forest Division. When the farmer refused to pay, the officer reportedly waited briefly before recording the damage as 65 trees, as shown in the video.