Officers of the Forest Department arrested Vikram Simha, brother of Mysuru MP Pratap Simmha, in Bengaluru on Saturday over the illegal felling of trees on government land at Nandagondanahalli in Belur taluk. Vikram Simha had been absconding since December 25.
A team of officers led by Prabhugouda Biradar, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Belur, arrested Mr. Vikram Simha with the help of Bengaluru police. The accused would be taken to Hassan for further inquiry.
As many as 126 high-value trees were cut at Nandagondanahalli. The incident came to light after Belur tahsildar Mamatha brought it to the notice of Forest Department officials on December 16. Following this, the department registered a case against Rakesh Shetty and Jayamma.