BJP MP Pratap Simha’s Brother Arrested in Connection with Crores Worth Tree Felling Scandal

Newseense December 31, 2023

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In a significant development, Vikram Simha, the brother of BJP MP Pratap Simha, has been apprehended by the Organised Crime squad of the Central Crime Branch in connection with the illegal felling of 126 trees worth crores in Karnataka’s Hassan district. The arrest follows Vikram Simha’s recent notoriety for his involvement in the breach of Parliament security earlier this month.

The Organised Crime team, in collaboration with forest officials, undertook electronic surveillance to trace Vikram Simha to Bengaluru, where he was subsequently arrested. He is currently in the custody of the forest department, and the investigation is ongoing.

The illegal felling of trees came to light when an official report revealed “available documentary evidence” suggesting Vikram’s involvement in the crime. The trees, valued at crores, were cut down in Hassan district and transported elsewhere. Forest officials had been actively pursuing Vikram Simha, who managed to evade them until the recent joint operation that led to his arrest.

This arrest adds to the challenges faced by BJP MP Pratap Simha, who is already under scrutiny for his connection to the Parliament security breach. The Opposition has been critical, questioning the lack of action against Pratap Simha despite the suspension of 146 MPs for unruly conduct related to the security breach incident.

In the Parliament breach case, one intruder was found to be carrying a visitor’s pass issued by Pratap Simha’s office, prompting further scrutiny. The BJP defended the issuance of the pass, explaining that the intruder’s father was a resident of Pratap Simha’s constituency.

While Pratap Simha maintains his innocence, stating that the people will decide his fate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in April 2024, the Opposition, particularly the Congress, continues to question the delay in questioning the BJP MP. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, however, asserts that Mr. Simha’s statement has been recorded as part of the ongoing investigation.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the political landscape in Karnataka remains charged, with all eyes on the Simha brothers and the unfolding controversies surrounding them. The repercussions of these developments are sure to reverberate in the political arena in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.