Muttil tree-felling case: Keralam Forest dept. resubmits chargesheet after correcting errors

The Forest department has resubmitted the chargesheet in the controversial Muttil tree-felling case after rectifying the shortcomings that had prompted the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Sulthan Bathery, to return the earlier document.

The revised chargesheet was submitted in the court on Friday after the department made corrections in the document filed on September 17 by the Divisional Forest Officer.

The court had returned the chargesheet citing missing documents, clerical errors, and shortcomings in the confiscation proceedings concerning the vehicle allegedly used to transport the timber. It had also questioned the delay in filing the chargesheet, observing that the department had not submitted a petition requesting that the delay be condoned.

The court noted that the delay could have been explained by citing the time taken to obtain DNA test results and a government directive requiring forest cases to be filed after the police submitted chargesheets in connected criminal cases. The court had also flagged deficiencies in the investigation, including the failure to trace and produce the remnants of trees allegedly felled on forestland. Several drafting and clerical errors in the chargesheet were also pointed out.

The latest submission came amid allegations that the earlier chargesheet was weak and that the omissions could have benefited the accused, the Augustine brothers. Questions were raised over the circumstances in which the earlier chargesheet was prepared.

Explanation sought

In the wake of criticism from various quarters over the rejected chargesheet, Forest Minister Shibu Baby John also sought an explanation from the Forest department, asking the officers to explain the circumstances that led to the preparation of such a chargesheet and submit a report after proper investigation.

The Muttil tree-felling episode had resulted in more than 170 cases being registered by the Forest, Police and Revenue departments. The Forest department alone had registered 52 cases against the Augustine brothers. The department had earlier cited the stay issued by the Kerala High Court as a reason for the delay in completing the prosecution proceedings. The latest chargesheet is expected to address the deficiencies pointed out by the magistrate court.