Rishikesh | Uttarakhand Social Welfare Minister Khajan Dass moved his son's marriage reception out of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR) and held a low-key wedding ceremony on Sunday after the Forest Department raised objections over grand preparations inside the reserve.

The department registered a forest crime case against the Sureshwari Devi Temple Committee for allowing a large-scale event without mandatory permissions. The temple, located in the Ranipur forest block of Haridwar range, is a critical corridor for elephants and leopards.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF) Ranjan Kumar Mishra told PTI that the department requested the minister to hold the marriage function outside the reserve’s boundaries. Mishra said that the minister extended positive cooperation, following which the department removed the tents and catering equipment from the site on Saturday night.

Minister Dass said that he and his family has been visiting the ancient temple for over 11 years and intended to hold the wedding there out of faith.

"We had decorated the premises after discussing it with the temple committee and the department authorities. If there was a problem, they could have told us earlier," Dass said while speaking to PTI.

The minister added that following an objection by some individuals, the department asked us to clear the area, and all tents and decorations were dismantled immediately.

"We conducted the 'pheras' and puja rituals with only 50-60 people today in a very simple manner without any noise or music," Dass said, adding that the marriage reception venue has been shifted to a farmhouse in Rishikesh.

Acting director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Rajiv Dhiman, said that a case has been registered against the office bearers of the temple committee under the Wildlife Protection Act for the unauthorised activity.

Dhiman added that an explanation has been sought from the Haridwar range staff to determine how the logistics reached the core area.