Date:19/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/19/stories/2007111959620500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Search for Natesan’s Artiqarts owner

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Forest Department officials are continuing the search for the owner of Natesan’s Artiqarts and three of his family members who are facing charges under the Forest Conservation Act.

The officials are on the lookout for Dinesh Natesan, Shankar Anand, Usha and Rashmi, who are reportedly at large since the raid conducted on Saturday at Natesan’s Artiqarts. All the four were missing from their house in Koramangala. “We want them for further investigation in the case,” said Deputy Conservator of Forests Vanashree Vipin Singh.

On Saturday, a team of officials led by Ms. Singh and Assistant Conservator of Forests B. Jayaram raided the factory of Natesan’s Antiqarts at Kadugodi and recovered sandalwood and teak wood worth Rs. 24 lakh, besides 11 teak wood statues. They arrested Balasubramaniam, supervisor of the factory, and seized the lorry in which the sandalwood and teak wood logs were transported. They later went to the showroom on M.G. Road and sealed it.