Muttil tree felling case: Forest department corrects errors, submits chargesheet again

KALPETTA: The Forest Department has corrected the errors in the Muttil tree felling case and submitted the chargesheet again. The revised chargesheet was filed before the Sultan Bathery Magistrate Court.

The department explained that the chargesheet was delayed because of a stay imposed by the High Court. On September 17, the court had returned the chargesheet filed in Case 1/21 of the Muttil tree felling case. The chargesheet was returned for failing to submit the required documents and for serious technical errors.

Questions had earlier been raised over whom the weak chargesheet was intended to benefit. The chargesheet was filed five years after the case was registered, without explaining the reason for the delay. It also did not clearly state whether the trees were cut from forest land or assigned land. The chargesheet was filed without even confiscating the seized timber and the vehicle used to transport it. There were also serious technical errors in the document. The court therefore returned the chargesheet without accepting it on file. This led to criticism that the move could have been aimed at helping the accused, the Augustine brothers.

The Augustine brothers had approached the High Court in 2021 seeking cancellation of the FIR in Case 1/21. The High Court lifted the stay on submitting the chargesheet only on September 8. It then directed that the chargesheet be submitted within 10 days. The department explained that the chargesheet was filed in haste on September 17 following this direction.

The Forest Department has also initiated proceedings under Section 61A of the Kerala Forest Act to confiscate the rosewood timber involved in the case and the tipper lorry to the government. Notices have been issued to the accused. The department will inform the court that the confiscation proceedings will be completed on an urgent basis.