Vikram Simha, sibling to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pratap Simha, found himself in legal turmoil as authorities took him into custody on Saturday. The reason behind this arrest stemmed from his alleged involvement in an incident where around 126 trees were purportedly chopped down without proper authorization and the timber clandestinely trafficked from a village located within the confines of Hassan district, part of the state.
Initially apprehended by the Organised Crime Squad of Bengaluru's City Crime Branch (CCB), Vikram Simha's custody subsequently transitioned into the hands of the state's forest department officials. As of the moment of composing this report, he remains within the custody of the state's forest department.
A noteworthy occurrence earlier this month was the attention-grabbing episode involving Pratap Simha, Vikram's brother, who garnered headlines for issuing 'visitor passes' to two individuals who breached the sanctity of the Lok Sabha hall.
Regarding Vikram Simha's case, the state's forest department instigated legal proceedings by filing a First Information Report (FIR) against him. He stands accused of felling trees sans the requisite permissions from governing bodies and engaging in the unlawful trafficking of timber in the confines of Nandagondanahalli village.
The unveiling of this operation occurred during a routine field visit conducted by Mamata, a tehsildar (revenue official), to the village. Her discovery prompted immediate action as she alerted authorities and prompted the initiation of an FIR.
The parcel of forested land where this illicit activity took place belonged to the government and had been allocated to two individuals. It constituted gomala land, dedicated to cattle pasturage, sprawling across an expanse of 12 acres.
Confirming Vikram Simha's arrest, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre emphasized that the arrest was made in connection to the unauthorized felling of 126 trees and the subsequent sale of timber within the boundaries of Hassan district in the state.
Expressing concern, Minister Khandre remarked during a telephonic conversation with India Today, "They have felled nearly 126 big trees which were as old as 50 to 60 years. This is a criminal act. The Forest Conservation Act and Tree Conservation Act have been flouted."
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