SANTHOSH SHETTIGAR Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE appellants (accused no.1 to 6) were tried and convicted for offences punishable under Sections 86 and 87 of the Karnataka Forest Act and they have been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 5 years and pay fine of Rs.50,000/ - each, in default, to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of six months. Therefore, they are before this court.

(2.) I have heard Sri.K.Prasanna Shetty, learned counsel for accused and Sri.B.Visweswaraiah, learned Government Advocate for the State.

(3.) IT is established from evidence on record that on 01.10.2007 at about 6.00 p.m., accused no.1 to 6 were found in a reserve forest area called Kachinamale and they had cut sandalwood trees and they had cut the trunk and branches of sandalwood trees into sandalwood billets and chips, which were totally weighing 19.5 Kgs. The forest officials in particular, PW's.1 to 3 on receipt of credible information had reached the place of incident. The accused were arrested at the spot where sandalwood tree was cut by the accused. The sandalwood billets and chips made by the accused were seized and they were produced before the jurisdictional Magistrate.