Published Sep 25, 2026 | 5:13 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 25, 2026 | 5:13 PM
Forest Minister Shibu Baby John.
Keralam Forest Minister Shibu Baby John has sought a detailed explanation from the Chief Conservator of Forests, North Zone, after a court returned the Forest Department’s charge-sheet in the Muttil tree-felling case, citing several procedural and investigative deficiencies.
The case pertains to the alleged misuse of a government order to fell 104 rosewood trees on revenue land by Reporter Broadcasting Company (RBC) Managing Director Anto Augustine and his brothers Roji Augustine and Josekutty Augustine.
The charge-sheet was filed before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Sulthan Bathery on September 17 by the Divisional Forest Officer.
The court returned the charge-sheet, citing missing documents, clerical errors and shortcomings in the confiscation proceedings concerning the vehicle allegedly used to transport the timber.
The court also questioned the delay in filing the charge-sheet, noting that the department had not submitted a proper petition seeking condonation of the delay. It observed that the delay could have been explained by citing the time taken to obtain DNA test results and a government direction requiring forest cases to be filed after the police submitted charge-sheets in connected criminal cases.
The court further flagged deficiencies in the investigation, including the failure to trace and produce remnants of the trees allegedly felled from forest land.
The court also noted several drafting and clerical errors in the document.
The Muttil tree-felling episode has led to more than 170 cases being registered by the Forest, Police and Revenue departments. The Forest Department alone has registered 52 cases against the brothers.
A separate cheating case has also been registered based on the complaint of M.M. Aliyar, proprietor of Malabar Timber Industries, who alleged that the Augustine brothers had offered to sell timber worth ₹1.4 crore by claiming that they had obtained the necessary permissions.
The development came as one of the accused, Anto Augustine, was summoned by the Kalamassery police for questioning in connection with a separate case involving an alleged attempt to defame Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan using forged documents.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
Also Read: Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine summoned for questioning in defamation case involving Keralam CM
