Vikram Simha, the brother of BJP Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha, was arrested on Saturday for an alleged illegal tree felling. However, he was released on bail the following day.
The Forest Department officials presented him before the Senior Civil Judge in Belur, and after his advocates argued his case, the judge granted him bail and he was released.
Speaking to the media, Vikram Simha expressed his happiness at the truth prevailing and stated that he had gone to the land with the intention to cultivate, and that the allegations against him were part of a conspiracy.
His advocate, Chandre Gowda, explained that the charges against Vikram Simha were bailable and that the Forest Department had no grounds to send him to judicial custody.
Vikram Simha was arrested for illegal tree felling in Nandagondanahalli, and the case led to the suspension of five Forest Department officers, including IFS officer D. Mohan Kumar and Assistant Conservator of Forests Prabhugouda.
Following the suspension, the Forest Department appointed B.G. Yathish as the investigating officer in the case after the initial investigating officer, Prabhugouda, had arrested Vikram Simha in Bengaluru before he was suspended.