Muttil tree-felling: Probe team seeks accounts of logs seized

Kozhikode: The investigation team probing the illegal tree felling in Muttil South village in Wayanad has once again obtained the detailed account of the logs seized by the forest department in the case. The felling of rosewood trees in the revenue patta lands of Muttil South occurred in Nov-Dec 2020 and Jan-Feb 2021. A detailed inventory was conducted of the 43 rosewood logs seized in the case and stored at the forest department timber depot in Sulthan Bathery. Due to concerns that the logs were deteriorating from exposure to rain and sun, the forest department approached the court, and as part of the auction process, the inventory was taken again. This will be submitted online to the court. Roji Augustine, the owner of Surya Timbers which had allegedly transported the illegally felled trees to a timber depot in Ernakulam, his brothers Josekutty Augustine and Anto Augustine, landowners, revenue officials and other accomplices are accused in the case. The investigation team recently submitted a charge sheet in the Sulthan Bathery judicial first class magistrate court in 36 cases where the Augustine brothers are accused. The widespread tree looting took place under the guise of an order issued by the revenue department in Oct 2020, which allowed the felling of trees, except sandalwood, on titled land with conditions.