Bengaluru: Vikram Simha, who is the brother of BJP MP Pratap Simha, has been arrested in connection with massive felling of trees worth crores in Karnataka’s Hassan district.
The forest department has taken him into custody following his arrest by the Organised Crime squad of Central Crime Branch.
BJP MP Pratap Simha hit headlines following the security breach in Parliament security earlier this month, according to NDTV.
An official report based on ‘ available documentary evidence’ said that Vikram Simha was involved in the felling of 126 trees and transporting them elsewhere.
After Simha escaped the long arm of Forest department, officials used electronic surveillance to track him down to Bengaluru.
Smha was arrested after a joint operation by the forest officials and the Organised Crime team and he will be taken to Hassan for further action in the case.
Brother’s arrest is a setback to the BJP leader Pratap Simha who is already facing criticism after one of the intruders at the parliament having used the visitor’s pass issued by his office.
The Opposition called out the government for not taking any action against Pratap Simha in the House breach case despite 146 MPs were suspended over unruly conduct in the House.
Following this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has said Simha's statement had been recorded as part of the probe.
The journalist-turned politician Pratap Simha said: ‘Whether Pratap Simha is a traitor or a patriot -- mother Goddess Chamundeshwari sitting on the hills of Mysuru, mother Goddess Cauvery who is sitting on Brahmagiri, my reader fans across Karnataka who have been reading my writings for the last twenty years, and people of Mysuru and Kodgu who have seen my work for 9.5 years and my conduct on issues related country, dharma and nationalism -- will give their verdict through votes in Lok Sabha polls to be held in April 2024.’