Swami Krishna, head of the Triveni-based Gajendra-moksha Dham run under a trust owned by Kamalnayanacharya, was arrested from Belatari of Nawalparasi on Tuesday. CNP Chief Conservation Officer Kamal Jung Kunwar said they initiated an investigation after remanding Swami Krishna in custody for 15 days on Wednesday.

“In the past one year, encroachment upon forests inside the national park and its buffer zone was increasing with the construction of infrastructures such as concrete houses, cowsheds and walls in around 10 hectares of land,” Kunwar said.

The Gajendramoksha Dham along the Narayani river has been considered a religious site since mid 70s and Swami Kamalnayanacharya started his activities in 1999. The construction of houses, schools, ashrams and roads by clearing forests was increasing in the recent years.

CNP officials said no law permits construction of such structures inside protected areas and buffer zones. However, amalnayanacharya, who reportedly established close ties with senior leaders, had flouted rules.

“We had repeatedly asked the swami and his followers to stop encroachment. We even sent a letter two months ago asking them to attend a meeting to discuss the matter, but they didn’t respond,” said Tika Ram Poudel, a CNP official.

“So, we held Swami Krishna for further investigation.”

As per the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, anyone encroaching upon protected areas is punished with a fine of Rs 10,000 or six months to two years of jail term or both.