The police have submitted a chargesheet before the Principal Sessions Court, Thodupuzha, in Idukki over a fake wild meat case. Thirteen forest officials, including the former Idukki Wildlife Warden B. Rahul, are among the accused in the case.

According to sources, the Peerumade Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP) submitted the 470-page chargesheet before the court on June 13. The former Kizhukanam section forest officer T. Anilkumar is the first accused in the case and Mr. Rahul is the 11th accused. Ninth accused and forest watcher Bhaskaran died during the course of the investigation.

The accused face charges under 15 Indian Penal Code sections and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of atrocities) Act as well.

The case

According to officials, Sarun Saji, a resident of Mulla near Kannampadi under the Kizhukanam section forest office, was arrested on September 20, 2022, for allegedly trying to sell wild meat. The forest officials claimed that they had seized wild meat from his autorickshaw that was parked near the check-post. After the arrest, the youth was remanded in judicial custody and was in jail for 10 days.

After the arrest, the youth’s family members and the Kerala Ullada Maha Sabha (KUMS) filed a complaint with higher officials. A further probe by Chief Forest Conservator (Vigilance) Neethu Lakshmi revealed that Mr. Anilkumar had kept the meat in the youth’s autorickshaw on the sly and arrested him. A scientific inspection revealed that the accused forest official had kept cattle meat in the youth’s autorickshaw to trap him.

As per panel directive

As per the direction of the State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the Upputhara police registered a case against Mr. Rahul and 12 forest officials.

Mr. Saji said that he hoped he would get justice from the court. “The accused should be punished,” he said.

KUMS State vice-president N.R. Mohanan said the chargesheet was a strong warning against those who slapped fake cases against tribespersons. “The Forest department officials are trying to protect the accused,” he alleged.