Forest Department officials with the accused, the seized sandalwood, and the vehicle used for the crime.
Credit: DH Photo
Mudigere: A reporter of a local newspaper in Hassan and another person were arrested by Forest Department officials in connection with the illegal transportation of sandalwood in Mudigere in Chikkamagaluru district on Wednesday night.
H S Mansoor, the scribe and a native of Handaguli and resident of the town, and M K Yusuf, a resident of Handpost, are the arrested.
Based on a tip-off, the team of Forest Department officials conducted a raid near Navagrama of the taluk and found that eight sandalwood logs were being transported on a motorbike. Both the accused, who tried to flee, were arrested, and the sandalwood logs were seized. The motorbike was pasted with a 'Press' sticker.
The accused were produced before a court.