Muttil tree felling case: High Court dismisses plea seeking stay in trial; Augustine brothers to appear in court

KOCHI: The High Court dismissed the petition seeking a stay of the trial in the Chottanikkara Magistrate's Court in the Muttil tree felling fraud case. Justice C.S. Dias ruled that the matter should be raised in the Magistrate's Court.

The petition was dismissed after the court reiterated the Magistrate's Court’s Prima facie evidence in the case.

The petitioner, the main accused Roji Augustine, had requested that the trial proceedings in the Chottanikkara Court be stayed until a decision is made in the main case in Wayanad involving cutting trees from forest land. Roji's brothers Anto Augustine and Jose Kutty Augustine are also accused.

The case in the Chottanikkara Court consists of a complaint filed by the Ambalamedu police on a complaint that timber cut from Muttil in the Meppadi Forest Range in Wayanad was sold under false pretences and Rs 1.40 crore was embezzled. The complainant is MM Aliyar, owner of Karimugal Malabar Timbers.

On Thursday, Anto and Jose Kutty ignored the Chottanikkara Magistrate's Court's order to appear for the reading of the charge sheet. The magistrate asked Roji about the other two and quizzed him on whether the duo was making fun of the court. Roji was also moved to a separate area. The next date for the reading of the charge sheet will be announced on Friday. According to the order, all the accused must appear in court for the next reading.

The Chottanikkara Court clarified that the trial is still in force even though the accused have filed a new petition stating that the fraud case does not fall within the jurisdiction of this court. The decision will also be announced on Friday regarding the application of the Augustine brothers to be part of the trial through video conference.