Kannada actor Yeah’The upcoming ‘Toxic’ adventure has hit legal trouble after the alleged illegal felling of trees to make way for the film set. Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has ordered officials to take disciplinary action against those who allowed felling of trees on forest land, according to a PTI report. Khandre also conducted a spot inspection of the site where the film’s shooting took place.

In a letter to the additional chief secretary of the Ministry of Forests, Ecology and Environment, the forest minister said 599 acres of gazetted reserve forest land in Bengaluru’s Peenya 1 and 2 plantations had been illegally transferred to Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in the 1960s without proper de-notification.

“HMT has illegally sold the forest lands in its possession to various government and private organizations and individuals, and non-forest activities are taking place here. Felling of trees in this forest area is visible in the satellite image,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

The minister also said he had recently discovered that HMT was leasing forest land under its control for film shoots and renting open spaces on a daily basis.

He added that unauthorized felling of trees on forest land is a punishable act. Citing old and recent satellite images of the site obtained from the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre, the minister sought details of the number of trees that had been cut down and whether relevant permissions had been obtained as per the rules.

The forest minister has asked officials to take strict disciplinary action against the officer who authorized the felling of trees.

“If permission has been granted, disciplinary action should be taken against the officer who authorized felling of trees in the forest land matter and forest offenses should be registered against all those responsible for felling of trees,” the letter states.

Meanwhile, the Geethu Mohandas directorial is set to hit the big screen on April 10, 2025. The movie stars YesKiara Advani, Darrell D’Silva, Huma Qureshi and Nayanthara, among others.