C.V.VINOD KUMAR Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner herein who is a Deputy Range Forest Officer, now working in the Mannarkkad Forest Station stands arrayed as accused No.14 in OR 7/2017 and accused No.11 in OR 8/2017 and OR 9/2017, all of Mannamangalam Forest Range Station.

(2.) The OR's arise from incidents that took place during the period when the petitioner was working as Deputy Range Forest Officer at Mannamangalam Forest Station, during the period August 2015 to November 2016.

(3.) The allegation in OR 7/2017 registered under Section 27(1)(e)(iii) and Section 84 of Kerala Forest Act 1961 and Section 379 IPC is that the first accused along with co-accused A2 to A12 under the leadership of the 2nd accused, cut and removed two teak wood trees from Revenue Forest land and thereby caused loss of Rs.2,34,388/- to the State. The petitioner was added as an accused on 13.8.2018 on an allegation that the offence was committed with the active support of the petitioner, who had misused his official authority.