Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Issues Notice to Retired IAS Officer ICP Kesari’s Son Over Alleged Safari Route Violation
The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve management has issued a show-cause notice to Suyash Kesari, son of retired 1988-batch IAS officer ICP Kesari, over the alleged operation of a safari vehicle outside the designated tourism route in Madhya Pradesh’s Panpatha buffer zone. Safari guide Nikhil Singh has also been asked to submit an explanation within 24 hours.
New Delhi: The management of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has sought an explanation from Suyash Kesari and safari guide Nikhil Singh following an alleged violation of designated tourism routes in the reserve’s Panpatha buffer zone. Suyash Kesari is the son of retired 1988-batch IAS officer ICP Kesari, who belongs to the Madhya Pradesh cadre.
The show-cause notice, dated November 10, 2026, was issued by the Tourism Officer, Tala, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. It concerns an incident reported on November 9, when the two individuals allegedly took tourists on a safari in an area outside the authorised tourism route.
According to the notice, the Assistant Director of the Tala range detected the vehicle during a patrol and inspection. The vehicle was reportedly found operating away from the designated safari route and inside the forest area.
The vehicle involved in the incident bears registration number MP04ZX8243. The reserve authorities have treated the alleged deviation as a violation of established tourism regulations and instructions issued by the park management.
Bandhavgarh Reserve Seeks Explanation Within 24 Hours
The notice directs both Suyash Kesari and guide Nikhil Singh to submit their explanations within 24 hours of receiving it. It further states that failure to respond within the prescribed period, or submission of an explanation deemed unsatisfactory by the authorities, could lead to ex parte proceedings under the applicable tourism regulations.
The matter has also been brought to the attention of senior officials of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, including the Field Director, Deputy Director and Assistant Director of Tala.
Questions Emerge Over Safari Vehicle’s Insurance Status
Apart from the alleged violation of the designated safari route, the insurance status of the vehicle involved in the incident has also come under scrutiny. An examination of publicly accessible vehicle records reportedly indicates that the insurance policy of the Gypsy bearing registration number MP04ZX8243 expired in July 2025.
However, the available information does not establish whether the vehicle was subsequently covered under a renewed insurance policy. Its current insurance status would therefore need to be independently verified before any conclusion can be drawn.
Who Is Suyash Kesari?
Suyash Kesari is associated with Ameliya Safaris, a luxury wildlife tourism company offering customised safari experiences and wildlife tours across India and Africa.The company specialises in curated wildlife holidays, guided safari excursions and nature-based travel experiences.
His father, ICP Kesari, is a retired 1988-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. During his administrative career, he held several senior positions in the state government, including that of Additional Chief Secretary.
Why Are Designated Safari Routes Important in Tiger Reserves?
Safari routes in tiger reserves are carefully designated to regulate tourism activities while safeguarding wildlife habitats. These restrictions help minimise human interference in sensitive forest areas and reduce disturbances to animals during their feeding, breeding and natural movement.
Unauthorised movement of safari vehicles can disrupt animal behaviour, damage vegetation and increase the risk of unwanted human-wildlife encounters.
Adherence to approved routes also enables forest authorities to monitor tourist movement, enforce conservation regulations and maintain a balance between responsible wildlife tourism and ecological protection.For this reason, compliance with designated safari routes is an essential requirement for safari operators, guides and visitors entering protected forest areas.
Bandhavgarh Officials Yet to Respond to Queries
The incident was also brought to the attention of senior officials of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, including Field Director Anupam Sahay, the Deputy Director and the Assistant Director of Tala.
However, Field Director Anupam Sahay had not responded to the newspaper’s queries regarding the incident and the action taken by the reserve management at the time of publication.
The next course of action will depend on the explanations submitted by Suyash Kesari and Nikhil Singh, followed by the proceedings initiated by the reserve authorities under the applicable tourism regulations. The allegations remain subject to examination by the competent authorities, and no final finding of wrongdoing has been established in the matter.
