Two days after Konni legislator K.U. Janeesh Kumar allegedly intervened to secure the release of a man from the Padam forest station, the Forest department on Wednesday submitted a detailed report on the incident to the Forest Minister.

The report, prepared by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Konni, was handed over to the Minister’s office by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Southern Circle. The report firmly denies any procedural lapses in summoning the individual for questioning and expresses concern that the MLA’s abrupt intervention could hinder the ongoing investigation into the electrocution of a wild elephant.

“The individual in question, who worked as a driver of an earthmover, was summoned for interrogation because he resided in the only house located within 150 m of the site where the elephant was found dead. The only other resident of that house was the farm’s watcher. Given the proximity, questioning both individuals was a natural course of action,” the report states.

It further clarifies that the man had arrived at the Padam forest station on his motorcycle. As the department was preparing to search his residence based on preliminary findings, the MLA arrived at the station and forcibly secured his release.

Plaints filed

The forest officials at the Padam station have lodged formal complaints against Mr. Janeesh Kumar, accusing him of intimidation. A First Information Report (FIR) filed by the police states that the MLA obstructed the officials on duty and issued threats, including a warning to burn down the station.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has extended full support to the legislator. A protest march to the Divisional Forest Office is planned for Friday, led by various local committees of the party. Mr. Janeesh Kumar has also stood his ground, vowing to fight the case and stand for the people.

A video of the incident, which occurred on the evening of May 13, shows the MLA confronting officers at the Padam forest station in the presence of the Konni Deputy Superintendent of Police. In the footage, Mr. Janeesh Kumar accuses forest officials of detaining innocent individuals without due process. He is seen angrily confronting them, threatening to “burn down the office” and warning that “Naxalites will come next.”