Ravindra Jadeja fined for flouting forest rules

Ravindra Jadeja, the India all-rounder, has been fined Rs 20,000 for flouting the rules of Gir Forest National Park, on Wednesday (August 10). The Saurashtra cricketer had posted pictures of him and his wife online, posing with endangered Asiatic Lion, in June earlier this year.

Jadeja violated the rules by standing on foot in the safari. As per the rules of the national park, visitors aren't allowed to leave their vehicles at any point during the safari. A preliminary fine was imposed on him by the officials at the park.

Jadeja posted two photos on his Instagram account, days after Gujarat forest officials had warned of the dangers involved in taking selfies with the forest animals.

AP Singh, the chief forest conservator, told AFP that they "had instituted a probe and called Jadeja for a statement... but since he was not available, his father-in-law Hardevsinh Solanki gave a written statement on his behalf" and paid the fine for him.

In another one of the photos, a forest staff was also spotted posing with Jadeja.

"Penalty and inquiry report are two different things. The inquiry report will be sent to higher authorities after we finalise it. Action against the forest staff would be taken based on the findings of the report," Singh added.