No CBI probe into tree felling case; High Court accept government's stand

KOCHI: The High Court has rejected a public interest litigation seeking a CBI probe into the tree felling case on assigned land. The court accepted the arguments of the state government. The state government told the court that the CBI could not intervene in the case. The government informed the high court that the case was being probed by the Special Investigation Team of the Crime Branch and the ongoing probe was effective.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan said that the UDF had appointed an impartial three-member expert committee to look into the facts of the tree felling controversy in eight districts of the state. The committee members are Prof E Kunhikrishnan, Adv Sushila Bhatt and retired IFS officer O Jayaraj. The committee was set up in consultation with all party leaders in the UDF. Satheesan said in a statement that the UDF will discuss the report of the committee in front of the public.