Andhra Pradesh: Two Red Sanders Smugglers Get Five-Year Jail Term

Red Sanders Special Additional District Judge Narasimha Murthy delivered the verdict in a case booked by the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF).

The convicted persons, Appaswamy and Kasi, residents of Padimalai village in Polur taluk of Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu, were arrested in the Chamal Range under the Nagapatla east forest beat area of Tirupati district for allegedly engaging in illegal red sanders smuggling.

The prosecution established the charges through evidence presented by Special Public Prosecutor Aluguri Amara Narayana.

Officials said the case was monitored by the RSASTF under the directions of its head L. Subba Rayudu and supervised by Task Force SP P. Srinivas. Following the conviction, the court directed that the two convicts be lodged in Nellore Central Jail.

Task Force SP said the judgment should serve as a deterrent to those entering the Seshachalam forests illegally to cut and smuggle red sanders trees. He also appreciated the efforts of the investigating officers and court staff involved in securing the conviction.