Friday, October 21 2005 14:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dehra Dun: Uttaranchal Government has instituted an inquiry into the reported landing of a helicopter of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) firebrand leader Uma Bharti inside the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary without prior permission from the forest department.

"We have learnt that a helicopter carrying Uma Bharti and others landed at Manini Bugyal area inside the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary around tenth of this month without taking prior permission from the State Government. We have launched an inquiry in this regard," said Samir Sinha, Director of Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve, who also oversees the Kedarnath sanctuary.

Sinha said a stern action would be taken if the charges were found true. Forest officials said the action, if proved, could invite a three-year rigorous imprisonment for the firebrand sanyasin.

BJP state general secretary Ajay Bhatt, however, described the charges against Bhrati as 'politically motivated' and said the Congress Government was trying to sully the image of Bharti keeping in mind the Bihar assembly polls.