NEW DELHI: The management of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has issued a show-cause notice to Suyash Kesari, son of retired 1988-batch IAS officer ICP Kesari of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, over the alleged operation of a safari vehicle outside the designated tourism route in the Panpatha buffer zone of the reserve.
The notice, dated November 10, 2026, was issued by the Tourism Officer, Tala, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. It seeks an explanation from Suyash Kesari and safari guide Nikhil Singh within 24 hours of receiving the notice.
According to the notice, the incident took place on November 9, when the two individuals allegedly took tourists on a safari in the Panpatha buffer zone. During a patrol and inspection, the Assistant Director of the Tala range reportedly found their vehicle operating away from the designated tourism route and inside the forest area.
The vehicle involved in the incident bears registration number MP04ZX8243. The reserve management has treated the alleged deviation as a violation of tourism regulations and instructions issued by the park authorities.
Bandhavgarh Reserve Seeks Explanation Within 24 Hours
The show-cause notice directs both Suyash Kesari and guide Nikhil Singh to submit their explanations within 24 hours of receiving it.
The notice also warns that failure to respond within the stipulated period, or submission of an explanation that is found unsatisfactory, could result in ex parte action under the applicable tourism regulations.
The matter has also been communicated to senior officials of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, including the Field Director, Deputy Director and Assistant Director of Tala.
Additionally, a copy of the notice was forwarded to the president of the Bandhavgarh Tala Jeep/Guide Union.
Questions Raised Over Safari Vehicle’s Insurance Status
Apart from the alleged violation of the designated safari route, questions have also emerged regarding the insurance status of the vehicle involved in the incident.
An examination of open-source vehicle records reportedly indicates that the insurance policy of Gypsy bearing registration number MP04ZX8243 expired in July 2025.
However, the available information does not establish whether the vehicle had obtained a renewed insurance policy after the reported expiry date.
Who Is Suyash Kesari?
Suyash Kesari is the owner of Ameliya Safaris, a luxury wildlife tourism company that organises safari experiences and wildlife tours across India and Africa.
The company offers customised wildlife holidays, guided safari experiences and nature-based travel packages.
His father, ICP Kesari, is a retired 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who served as Additional Chief Secretary before retirement.
Why Are Designated Safari Routes Important in Tiger Reserves?
The restriction of safari vehicles to designated tourism routes is an important part of wildlife conservation and forest management.
These routes are established to minimise human interference in the natural habitats of wild animals, protect sensitive forest areas and prevent unnecessary disturbance to wildlife during feeding, breeding and movement.
Unauthorised movement of safari vehicles inside forest areas can disturb animal behaviour, damage vegetation and increase the possibility of human-wildlife encounters.
Following designated routes also helps forest authorities regulate tourism activities and maintain a balance between wildlife conservation and visitor experiences.
Therefore, compliance with safari route regulations is essential to ensure that tourism activities do not adversely affect the ecological balance of protected forest areas.
Bandhavgarh Officials Yet to Respond to Queries
The matter 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, no response was received from Bandhavgarh Field Director Anupam Sahay to the newspaper’s queries regarding the action taken, if any, in the matter.
Further action by the reserve management will depend on the explanations submitted by Suyash Kesari and guide Nikhil Singh and the subsequent proceedings under the applicable tourism regulations.
