AP Deputy CM Lauds Red Sanders Probe, Invites Journalist for High-Level Discussion

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan has praised the investigative documentary Planet Killers , describing it as an “extraordinary account” of the large-scale felling, illegal transport, and smuggling of Red Sanders that devastated the Seshachalam Forest.

In his statement, Pawan Kalyan said the film effectively exposed the international networks involved in the Red Sanders mafia, the violence associated with the trade, and the forest personnel who lost their lives while trying to curb the operations. He also said the documentary highlighted how certain individuals “hiding behind political masks” maintained close ties with smugglers and allegedly used Red Sanders smuggling to fuel their political rise.

“The criminals hiding behind political masks in the red sanders network are extremely dangerous to society. My appreciation to the makers for courageously bringing these facts to light and showing the brutal destruction of the Seshachalam Forest and its endangered Red Sanders,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Responding to the remarks, the journalist whose investigation forms the core of the documentary expressed gratitude to the Deputy CM for acknowledging the work. The journalist said Planet Killers is based on the book Red Sanders: The Great Forest Heist , an in-depth investigation into the smuggling networks operating across India. The book was released earlier by former Chief Justice of India Justice N. V. Ramana.

The documentary, produced by Martin Boudot and directed by Hugo Van Offel—who also directed an episode of Netflix’s Most Wanted —was filmed across multiple countries and key smuggling-route locations. These include Seshachalam forest, Tirupati, Hyderabad, Guntur, Kadapa, Chennai, and Javadhu Hills in Tamil Nadu, as well as France, Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, the Environmental Division of Interpol in Singapore, and Dubai, where the team tracked smuggling operative Sahul Hameed.

The journalist stated that the film built on years of field reporting, including travel through remote forest terrain, interactions with woodcutters, smugglers, former officials, police personnel, and enforcement agencies across states. The team also filmed in Chennai while retracing the origins of the trade and interviewed Gangi Reddy, one of the key accused in Red Sanders cases.

In a follow-up message issued by the Deputy Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan conveyed his heartfelt appreciation for the journalist’s risky and meticulous investigative work. “The public needs to know these truths, and your work has played a vital role in bringing them to light,” he said, adding that the journalist would soon be invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on Red Sanders smuggling, to help strengthen ongoing efforts in enforcement and forest protection.

The exchange comes at a time when the Andhra Pradesh government has renewed focus on combating Red Sanders smuggling, strengthening forest vigilance, and ensuring long-term protection for one of India’s most endangered tree species.