Karnataka. Vikram Simha, brother of BJP MP Pratap Simha in Karnataka, was arrested by the police on Saturday. He is accused of cutting 120 trees without permission and smuggling of wood in a village in Hassan district. A case had already been registered against him in this matter. BJP MP Pratap Simha had come into limelight regarding the lapse in security of Parliament. Visitor passes were issued in the name of Simha to both the accused who forcibly entered the Lok Sabha Hall.
The state forest department had filed an FIR against MP’s brother Vikram Simha on charges of cutting trees without permission and smuggling of wood in Nandagondanahalli village. This matter came to light when Tehsildar Mamta visited the village. When he came to know about the felling of trees without forest department permission, the tehsildar alerted the authorities and lodged an FIR against Vikram Simha.
Let us tell you that the place in the forest where trees have been cut is government owned and has been allotted to two people. It is a Gomla land (cattle pasture) spread over 12 acres. State Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre told India Today that Vikram Simha was allegedly involved in felling trees for more than 15 days. Immediate action will be taken against them. According to Khandre, Vikram Simha had allegedly made a land deal with the government to grow ginger and had acquired forest land on lease. But instead, he started cutting trees.
