Kannada film superstar Yash's latest movie 'Toxic' has landed in hot water over allegations of illegal tree felling for set construction in Bengaluru. The incident has sparked a bitter confrontation between the Karnataka Forest Department and Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT), raising concerns about the fate of a 599-acre reserve forest area.

The controversy stems from the alleged felling of hundreds of trees within the forest land, currently occupied by HMT. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, citing the Supreme Court's ruling that "once a forest, always a forest unless denotified," has declared that the area remains a protected forest despite being transferred to HMT without proper de-notification.

In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Khandre highlighted the illegal commercial activities taking place on the land, including the filming of "Toxic." He demanded an investigation using satellite imagery to assess the extent of deforestation and verify if any permissions were granted for the tree felling.

Khandre has vowed to take legal action against those responsible for the alleged violations, including filing charges under forest laws if necessary. He has also stated his intention to reclaim the land and transform it into a green space similar to Bengaluru's iconic Cubbon Park.

However, Khandre's efforts have been met with opposition from Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, H D Kumaraswamy, who maintains that HMT holds legal ownership of the property.

The 599-acre land was originally designated as a reserved forest in 1896 and 1901. While the Forest Department claims that it was never officially denotified, HMT has reportedly sold off 165 acres of the land to government and private entities, claiming ownership.

As the controversy intensifies, "Toxic," directed by Geetu Mohandas, is scheduled to release in April 2025. The film's release, however, could be overshadowed by the ongoing legal battle and the potential environmental repercussions of the alleged illegal tree felling.