A news report carried by a news portal named ‘The South First’ alleged that Mysore BJP MP Pratap Simha’s brother Vikram Simha was booked in an illegal wood felling and tree smuggling scam.
Brother of Karnataka @BJP4India MP Pratap Simha booked for unauthorised tree-felling, wood-smuggling in Hassan.
Vikram Simha reportedly felled hundreds of scheduled trees in around 12 acres of land, including over 5 acres of Revenue Department propertyhttps://t.co/IWgDx3hojL
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) December 24, 2023
The report quoted Congress party’s X handle as well as some officials in the Forest department as the source of information for this allegation.
However it has come to light that the allegations are not entirely true with BJP MP Pratap Simha sharing the FIR copy.
In the FIR copy, the names of A1 and A2 do not feature Vikram Simha, instead mention a Rakesh Shetty, s/o Narayana Shetty, from Nandagodanahalli village, near Arehalli highway, Belur taluk as A1 and a Jayamma, w/o Sudhakara Shetty, Nandagodanahalli village, near Arehalli highway, Belur taluk as A2. The FIR also states that the accused are hiding/absconding
Additionally, the items recovered list included in the FIR states, “At Nandagodanahalli village, survey no 16 and nearby areas, for felling trees without the permission of the govt, (01) Hitachi model type JX110 Super Machine Serial number S110-10226, (02) Hitachi model type EX110 Super Machine Serial number S110-10649, (03) tractor-tiller without registration number, (04) power saws for cutting wood (2 of them) these items have been seized on behalf of the govt and taken to Gandekatte Forest Storehouse”
According to sources, the seized vehicles are tractors and some machines which are alleged to be earth movers.
What is even more interesting in South First’s report is that they spoke to Hassan’s Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) R Ravishankar who “officially confirmed to South First the legal action, citing Vikram Simha’s purported attempt to smuggle wood by chopping down over 100 scheduled trees on the government’s revenue land.”
Booked my brother?! Dear editor of @TheSouthfirst there are hundreds of good reporters n journalists who report news n not rumours. Pls learn from them. PFA FIR copy for ref. https://t.co/lztyWMYh3e pic.twitter.com/YaTCxVn4Vg
— Pratap Simha (@mepratap) December 26, 2023
When the accused names don’t mention a Simha, how can the officials confirm that he was involved in the scam is perplexing.
The Executive Editor of the outlet Anusha Ravi Sood justified the news saying that the FIR mentions “others” implying that it “could” include his brother.
She also tried to substantiate her claims saying that the Hassan’s Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) and Karnataka Congress Minister holding the forests portfolio are on record naming Vikram Simha.
Honourable MP,
The FIR, you have duly shared, also mentions "and others".Two persons in official positions – Hassan's Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) & minister for Forests @eshwar_khandre are on record naming the said accused in the case. https://t.co/QalFmrwsqI pic.twitter.com/NxDOTZM0Hx
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) December 26, 2023
However many on social media alleged that it seems like an attempt to bring disrepute to MP Pratap Simha who was recently in the news the Parliament attackers held visitor passes issued in the name of the BJP MP.
This is not the first time that The South First has been caught peddling misinformation. Earlier in December 2023, the news outlet amplified fake news about the logo of National Medical Commission (NMC) based on a tweet written by propagandist Dr. Abby Philips (@TheLiverDoc).
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