Illegal tree felling — Forest guards seek probe

"If the State Government fails to institute a judicial probe into the illegal smuggling of teak logs, the innocent forest employees will be made scapegoats," Patil said. He dismissed allegations by the Chandrapur legislator as "politically motivated" and "hypothetical".

Patil alleged that some contractors from adjoining districts of Andhra Pradesh were carrying out illegal activities thanks to the patronage of Naxals in the area.