Muttil tree-felling case: Kerala High Court dismisses Roji Augustine’s plea to stay trial

The Kerala High Court has dismissed a plea by Roji Augustine, an accused in an alleged cheating case connected with the Muttil tree-felling case, to stay the trial in the case in which he, along with his brothers Jose Kutty Augustine and Anto Augustine, had been arraigned as accused.

The court directed him to approach the trial court – the Chottanikkara Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ernakulam – on the matter.

The brothers had earlier this month surrendered before the trial court after the court had issued a non-bailable warrant against them. They were subsequently ordered to appear before the court for framing of charges in the cheating case on Tuesday. They did not appear before the court on the day and filed an application for an extension.