More than 24 people were accused in the land and forest scam in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. However, no action was taken against the culprits. Taking serious note of this, an empowered committee constitued by the Supreme Court reprimanded the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh governments and the Central Bureau of Investigation. The timber mafia, senior politicians and bureaucrats allegedly connived in the scam.They were charged with grabbing tribal land in forest areas and felling of trees.