Vikram Simha was arrested in connection with illegal felling of 126 trees in 8-acre land belonging to the Forest Department to cultivate ginger.
Published Dec 30, 2023 | 10:59 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 30, 2023 | 10:59 PM
MP Pratap Simha and his brother Vikram Simha.
Vikram Simha, the brother of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha seat Pratap Simha on Saturday, 30 December, was arrested in Bengaluru.
On 16 December, Karnataka Forest Department registered a case, where BJP Mysuru MP Pratap Simha’s brother Vikram Simha is alleged to be involved in the illegal felling of hundreds of trees and smuggling wood from Hassan district’s Maragondanahalli village.
The Forest Department officials, in a joint operation with the Bengaluru City Police, arrested Vikram Simha in Bengaluru. The joint team, led by Assistant Conservator of Forests (Hassan), Dr Prabhugouda Biradar, the Investigation Officer (IO), with assistance from ACP (Crime Cell), Bengaluru, apprehended the accused on Saturday, 30 December.
A press release from the Forest Department authorities on Saturday, stated, “In the matter of FoC No. 32/2023-24 — dated 16 December 2023, of Belur Range, Hassan division — the suspect Vikram Simha came for his statement before the IO but subsequently avoided his presence before the IO. Since his presence was essential, the IO found it necessary to secure his presence. Available documentary evidence also hinted at his involvement in the above-mentioned crime.”
“Electronic surveillance provided clues that he had left Hassan district and was in Bengaluru, avoiding phone calls from the IO and moving incognito. A plainclothes team of Forest personnel travelled to Bengaluru and kept a watch on the suspect’s movements,” the statement further explained.
“Since Bengaluru is a large and populated city, the team sought help from the local police. The Bengaluru Police Commissioner extended full cooperation by providing personnel and technical surveillance support. A joint team, led by the IO Dr Biradar, finally arrested the accused in Bengaluru on Saturday,” the press release stated.
The accused is being taken to Hassan-Belur for further action as per law.
Mysuru MP Pratap Simha is already embroiled in a controversy over his office’s role in issuing passes to two people involved in the Parliament security breach on 13 December.
MP Pratap, on Tuesday, claimed that his brother Vikram was a farmer living away from public life and was not named in the FIR connected to the tree-felling case.
Even after Vikram Simha’s arrest in the case, Pratap Simha on Saturday evening shared copies of the FIR highlighting the names mentioned in it.
FIR pic.twitter.com/LABDLtTth4
— Pratap Simha (@mepratap) December 30, 2023
“My brother made an agreement to cultivate ginger. The agreement for the lease is from January 2024 to July 2025. The task of chopping the trees belonging to the Forest Department on that particular land was given to a person named Ravi by the owner. He has been named in the FIR. What is the relation between this and my brother?” Simha had asked on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday after Vikram Simha’s arrest, Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology, and Environment Eshwar Khandre, “Based on the complaint that 126 trees were illegally chopped down and smuggled, an investigation was initiated. Our officials found that one person had leased the land to supposedly cultivate ginger but got the trees chopped down for smuggling. Based on the investigation, they have begun the process of arresting those involved.”
The Minister previously had said that there was a lapse from forest officials as well, and five officers have already been suspended.
Chief Conservator of Forest, Hassan, R Ravishankar had previously confirmed to South First that Vikram Simha had been booked over his alleged involvement in the case even after Pratap Simha defended his brother.
According to the Forest Department officials, the MP’s brother Vikram has leased about 3.1 acres from one Rakesh Shetty and one Jayamma Shetty to cultivate ginger. However, Revenue Department officials said that neither Rakesh nor Jayamma were the owners of the land.
The lease agreement runs from January 2024 to July 2025. But it has been alleged that around 126 trees have been cut on eight acres belonging to the state government, which is illegal. A source in the Forest Department said that more than 150 trees have been cut without permission.
