Kerala Muttil tree-felling case: Chottanikkara court issues non-bailable warrants to Augustine brothers in cheating case
A court in Ernakulam has issued non-bailable warrants for the Augustine brothers regarding a cheating case linked to the 2021 Muttil tree-felling scandal. The accused failed to appear for the framing of charges related to the fraudulent sale of timber.
Why it matters
This case is a significant legal development in a high-profile environmental and corruption scandal involving illegal timber felling in Kerala.
The Chottanikkara Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ernakulam on Monday (August 10, 2026) issued non-bailable warrants to the Augustine brothers in a cheating case linked to the controversial Muttil tree-felling scandal.
All three accused—Roji Augustine, Jose Kutty Augustine, and Anto Augustine—have been directed to appear before the court on August 18, 2026. The order follows their failure to comply with the court’s directive of August 6 to be present on Monday for the framing of charges.
The case was registered by the Ambalamedu police on a petition filed by M.M. Aliyar, proprietor of Malabar Timber Industries, Karimugal, alleging fraud in the sale of timber from illegally felled trees in 2021.
In July, the Kerala High Court refused to interfere with the Chottanikkara court’s order, dismissing the discharge petitions of Jose Kutty Augustine and Anto Augustine. They are accused of cheating Mr. Aliyar of ₹1.4 crore.
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