An inquiry conducted by Haryana's forest officers has confirmed the illegal felling of 1,148 khair trees in the Asarewali protected forest, part of a wildlife sanctuary in Panchkula district, Haryana, India. The report, submitted on March 6, revealed that among the felled trees, 60 were mature, indicating a significant environmental violation. The forest department's four-member inquiry committee found that the felling was highly selective, with 99.9% of the trees being khair, suggesting a clear commercial motive. Evidence of concealment, such as covering stumps with sand and boulders, was also noted. The inquiry has led to the announcement of strict disciplinary actions against involved officers and plans to register an FIR under the Wildlife Protection Act. The incident has resulted in a jurisdictional conflict between two senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, leading to their removal. The government has since appointed new leadership within the forest department and increased surveillance in the area to prevent further illegal activities.