JUDGMENT :

N. J. Jamadar, J.

1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and, with the consent of the learned Counsel for the parties, heard finally.

2. By this Petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India and Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, the Petitioners assail the legality, propriety and correctness of a judgment and order dated 13^th March 2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge Panvel in Criminal Appeal No. 10 of 2023, whereby the Appeal preferred by the Petitioners against an order passed by the Chief Conservator of Forest, dated 27^th December 2022, under Section 61-C of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (“Forest Act, 1927”), came to be dismissed by affirming the said order which, in turn, has affirmed an order of confiscation of the forest-produce and vehicle, passed by the Competent Authority and Assistant Conservator of Forest, Panvel, under Section 61-A of the Forest Act, 1927.

3. Shorn of superfluities, the background facts leading to this Petition can be stated as under:

3.1 The Petitioners were transporting 14204 Kgs of red sanders logs, which were stored at M/s Jai Hanuman Wood Works, No. 50/2, Vijinapura, Doorvaninagar, Bangalore to M/s Shr