Illegal Khair Trade: Raipur/Raigarh: A major breakthrough has been reported in the investigation into the alleged illegal trade and transportation of valuable khair wood in Chhattisgarh. Raigarh Police have arrested accused Manish Agrawal along with two associates. His arrest has now shifted the focus of the investigation from individual seizures to the larger network allegedly involved in cutting, transporting, storing and supplying khair wood across state borders.
Investigators had earlier found links pointing towards the forests of Mahasamund and Janjgir, where khair trees were allegedly cut and the logs subsequently loaded onto trucks for transportation. The movement of these vehicles through forest checkpoints is also being examined. Particular attention is now being given to the Mahasamund-Odisha border route, with investigators checking which vehicles crossed the checkpoints and whether anyone facilitated their movement.
Raigarh SSP Shashimohan Singh is expected to provide further details of the case. Police have also recovered khair logs that had allegedly been cut and loaded onto trucks by the network. Following Manish Agrawal’s arrest, the role of his brother Mukesh Agrawal is also being examined.
July Seizure Had Exposed a Bigger Operation
The investigation had gained momentum after a seizure in July at a factory premises in Hirapur, where wood allegedly linked to Manish Agrawal was recovered. The seized stock was estimated to be worth around ₹1 crore and included khair and kahua wood belonging to restricted categories.
During the inquiry, workers present at the premises told investigators that they had already processed wood equivalent to around 17 truckloads, which had allegedly been dispatched before the raid.
The information indicated that the seized stock could have been only one part of a much larger operation.
From Forests to Trucks: How the Supply Chain Was Allegedly Built
Investigators had found that khair wood was allegedly sourced from forest areas across Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
In Odisha, areas around Sambalpur, Patnagarh, Balangir, Belpara, Kantabanji and Khariar Road were among the locations being examined. The investigation suggested that wood was allegedly procured through local contacts and then moved towards Chhattisgarh.
From there, the material was allegedly dumped, reloaded and transported towards other states.
Investigators are examining possible links extending through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Following Manish Agrawal’s arrest, police are now working to verify the entire route and identify the people involved at each stage.
Fake Transit Documents and Escort Vehicles Under Scanner
The investigation had also uncovered allegations of fake transit permits, vehicle number plates and other documents being used to facilitate transportation.
According to the investigation, vehicles carrying the wood were allegedly accompanied by cars or motorcycles that monitored routes and checkpoints. If a possible inspection or police action was detected, the trucks were allegedly moved or parked at safer locations.
Investigators are now examining where the alleged fake documents were prepared, who supplied them and how they were used to move consignments across different states.
Digital Evidence Could Reveal the Bigger Network
Mobile phones and other digital evidence have become an important part of the investigation. Police are examining call records, contacts and communications to identify the people allegedly connected with the operation.
The investigation is now focused on establishing the complete chain—from illegal cutting and procurement to transportation, financing and final buyers.
Mukesh Agrawal’s Role Also Under Investigation
A separate seizure of a large khair consignment in Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh, had also brought the name of Manish Agrawal’s brother Mukesh Agrawal into the investigation.
Authorities are now examining whether the Sidhi case and other seizures were connected to the same supply chain, vehicles or network.
Why Khair Wood Is Called ‘Red Gold’
Khair wood is commercially valuable because it is used to manufacture catechu (kattha), widely used in the pan industry. It also has applications in leather and textile processing as well as traditional and Ayurvedic preparations.
The market value of khair wood is estimated at around ₹8,000 to ₹9,000 per quintal, making it highly attractive to illegal traders.
Arrest Is Only the Beginning
With Manish Agrawal now in custody, investigators have moved to the next stage of the case. Police are examining the alleged roles of associates, transporters, buyers, financiers and local facilitators.
The investigation is also focusing on the alleged movement of timber from the forests of Mahasamund and Janjgir, through routes connected to the Odisha border, and onward to other states.
The key question now is whether Manish Agrawal was operating the alleged network alone or whether a larger interstate syndicate was working behind him. Police are examining interrogation findings and digital evidence to identify the remaining links in the chain.
— Sandeep Shukla
