Muttil tree felling case: Minister seeks explanation from forest department after court returns chargesheet

KALPETTA: Minister Shibu Baby John has sought an explanation from the forest department after the court returned the chargesheet in the Wayanad Muttil tree felling case. The minister demanded the departmental head to explain the circumstances under which the chargesheet was returned. He also directed the department to submit a report on the matter today itself. The court had returned the chargesheet pointing that the necessary documents had not been submitted along with it.

The Meppadi Range Officer seized the timber allegedly transported by the Augustine brothers on February 3, 2021. The forest department submitted the chargesheet before the Sulthan Bathery Magistrate Court on September 17. Seven including the Augustine brothers, were named accused in the chargesheet. A total of 37 cases has been registered in the Muttil tree felling incident.

The court pointed that the chargesheet did not mention whether the trees had been cut from the forest land. There was also no clarity on why the chargesheet had been delayed. The chargesheet also did not explain why the lorry in which the teak logs were found had not been seized. The court returned the chargesheet citing these issues.

In the case registered by the Ambalamedu Police, Roji Augustine, Josekutty Augustine and Anto Augustine are the first, second and third accused, respectively. The case alleged that timber illegally cut and transported from an area under the Meppadi Forest Range was sold to M M Aliyar of Karimgulam after making him believe that the timber had the required forest department transit pass.