The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Chottanikkara, on Monday (September 7, 2026) postponed the framing of charges against the Augustine brothers in the cheating case linked to the Muttil tree-felling scandal in Wayanad, Kerala, to September 11.
The adjournment followed a plea by the accused seeking suspension of proceedings until the Kerala High Court considers their request to stay trial court proceedings on Tuesday (September 8, 2026).
The three accused – Roji Augustine, Jose Kutty Augustine, and Anto Augustine – face charges in a case registered by the Ambalamedu police on a petition filed by M.M. Aliyar, proprietor of Malabar Timber Industries, Karimugal, alleging fraud in the sale of timber from illegally felled trees in 2021.
Earlier, on August 24, the court had dismissed a petition filed by the accused seeking to defer proceedings until the Forest Department filed its final report in the original Muttil tree-felling case, to which the present case has been linked. The prosecution opposed the plea, arguing that this was a cheating case registered by the police, distinct from the tree-felling case pursued by the Forest Department.
The accused also challenged the jurisdiction of the court, but their petition was dismissed. The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Sulthan Bathery oversees criminal proceedings and charge-sheets related to the illegal felling of protected rosewood trees in Muttil South village.
The police had initially booked the case under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating). The High Court later quashed the charge under Section 406 but upheld the offence of cheating. According to the prosecution, the accused defrauded Mr. Aliyar to the tune of ₹1.4 crore by offering to sell timber.
Published – September 07, 2026 03:17 pm IST
