Three get five years’ jail for red sanders smuggling in Tirupati
A court in Tirupati has sentenced three individuals to five years in prison for smuggling red sandalwood. The conviction follows a 2017 case involving illegal entry into the Seshachalam reserve forest.
Why it matters
The sentencing highlights local efforts to combat environmental crime and protect protected forest resources in India.
The Red Sanders Special (RSS) Additional District Judge (ADJ) Court judge A. Narasimha Murthy on Monday (July 13, 2026) sentenced three smugglers to five years’ imprisonment for smuggling red sanders, and imposed a fine of ₹3 lakh on each.
Gunishetti Puttalayya (38) of Anasampalli village in Renigunta mandal, Tirupati district, and Petluri Rajayya (30) and Gaddamvari Manikanta (27), both of Nellutlavaripalli village in Chinnagottigallu mandal in the same district, were convicted.
The case was registered at the Bhakarapeta police station in 2017 by the then Sub-Inspector G. Chandra Mohan and his team. The accused had illegally entered the Seshachalam reserve forest area and smuggled red sandalwood.
The case was presented in court through the ‘Good Trial Monitoring’ mechanism, and the conviction followed the submission of strong evidence.
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