{
  "id": 4618594,
  "title": "Muttil tree-felling case in Keralam: Charges to be framed against Augustine brothers on September 7",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/muttil-tree-felling-case-in-keralam-charges-to-be-framed-against",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T09:48:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/muttil-tree-felling-case-in-keralam-charges-to-be-framed-against-augustine-brothers-on-september-7/article71410087.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Augustine brothers, Roji, Jose Kutty and Anto, are set to face charges on September 7 in connection with the Muttil tree-felling scandal in Kerala. The charges stem from a cheating case linked to the sale of timber from illegally felled trees in 2021, as alleged by M.M. Aliyar, the owner of Malabar Timber Industries in Karimugal. The Chottanikkara Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ernakulam, which heard the case on August 31, will reconvene on September 7 to consider the charges. The court had previously dismissed a petition by the accused to delay proceedings until the Forest Department submitted a final report on the original Muttil tree-felling case. The prosecution maintains that this is a separate case of cheating, registered by the police, despite the underlying criminal proceedings overseen by the Sulthan Bathery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court. The accused have been accused of defrauding Mr. Aliyar of ₹1.4 crore by selling him 54 pieces of timber from illegally felled trees, bought in instalments as advance payments. The timber, allegedly cut in Wayanad's Meppadi Forest Range and transported from illegally felled rosewood and teak trees, was confiscated by the Forest Department in February 2021. The accused sought to argue that no permit was required for the timber's transport and sale, a claim rejected by the court as there was no evidence of authorization from the Forest Department for such activities.",
  "summary": "The three accused - Roji Augustine, Jose Kutty Augustine, and Anto Augustine - face charges in case registered based on a petition filed by M.M. Aliyar, proprietor of Malabar Timber Industries, Karimugal, alleging fraud in sale of timber from illegally felled trees in 2021",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Twin murder charges in US leave Anila’s native village in Keralam in shock",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/twin-murder-charges-in-us-leave-anilas-native-village-in-keralam-in",
        "published": "2026-08-31T08:06:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}