HC stays case against forest officials

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed a criminal case filed against T. Uma, former Divisional Forest Officer, Forest Headquarters, Thiruvananthapuram, and now Regional Deputy Director, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Southern Region, Chennai, and other forest officials on a complaint filed by an accused arrested in connection with poaching of elephants and ivory smuggling cases.

The accused, Aji Bright of Attingal, had alleged ill treatment by the forest officials when he was arrested from Thiruvananthapuram.

According to the petitioner, she was the controlling officer of elephant poaching cases, spread over the Malayattoor, Munnar, and Vazhachal forest divisions, when she was working as the Division Forest Officer in 2013.

The cases had inter-State ramifications and involvement of big industries and highly placed persons was suspected.

In fact, the cases related to poaching of 18 elephants for ivory smuggling and trade. It was the biggest ever catch in the history of illegal ivory trade in the country, she claimed.

According to her, Aji was the prime accused and a habitual offender involved in 18 forest cases.

Officials had seized a large quantity of ivory and other tools and sculptures from his custody. He was arrested on July 12, 2015. When he was produced before the Nedumangad magistrate court and later at the Kothamanglam magistrate court, he had stated that he had no complaints against the forest officials.

He was also found medically fit and later remanded to the Muvattupuzha sub-jail.

The accused later filed the complaint alleging ill treatment by the forest officials, that too one month after he was produced before the Kothamangalam magistrate court.

The Muvattupuzha police had registered his complaint and transferred it to the Museum police station, Thiruvananthapuram.