Bangkok: Lawyer Ananchai has petitioned "Big Tao" (a high-ranking official) to prosecute "Kru Ba Chaiwat" and eight other related individuals after discovering information suggesting the accused group encroached on forest land and illegally occupied land allocated under the Agricultural Land Reform Act.

According to Thai News Agency, Ananchai Chaiyadech, a lawyer, submitted documents, photographs, and land deeds, claiming the land had been encroached upon and cleared, to Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Panngaeo, Deputy Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, to file a complaint against Kruba Chaiwat and all members of the Kruba Chaiwat Foundation for Peace and Order Committee involved. He revealed that previously, police, along with the Department of Forestry, the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO), and the National Office of Buddhism, had inspected the Chanajai Meditation Center of Phra Chaiwat Akkachayo, or Kruba Chaiwat, who has only been ordained for two years. They found evidence of encroachment on ALRO land, including deforestation, the construction of a meditation center, the sale of meditation huts for 500,000 baht each, the construction of monks' residences, and the filling of land for roads, totaling over 100 rai (approximately 40 hectares) of land. The abbot of Wat Sri Suthawas, a royal templ e and the head of the Loei Provincial Sangha (Dhammayut sect), which is the temple where Phra Chaiwat belongs, has issued an order to the temple's superiors within 7 days, which expires on February 26, 2026. Subsequently, Phra Chaiwat gave an interview to the media stating that he acted in the name of the Kruba Chaiwat Foundation for Peace, conducting all construction, fundraising, and other activities. The Lawyers' Foundation for the Dhamma Army then investigated the registration of the Kruba Chaiwat Foundation for Peace and found that it was registered on December 20, 2024, with a board of directors of 8 people. Phra Chaiwat's interview indicates that the encroachment on approximately 2,000 rai of land under the Agricultural Land Reform Act is not limited to him; it is also the Kruba Chaiwat Foundation for Peace, run by a board of 8 people.

Furthermore, media reports indicate that electricity poles have been erected in the area by private contractors, land has been filled in, and deforestation has occurred, particularly of acacia trees-tree seeds that were previously dispersed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, in collaboration with the military, via aircraft. Various other tree species have also been planted, along with the construction of a meditation center, monks' quarters, and a large number of Japanese-style bamboo trees. These actions are unlikely to have been carried out by a single individual. The Lawyers Foundation for the Dhamma Army has therefore filed a complaint requesting an investigation into all involved parties. If any wrongdoing is found, legal action should be taken against individuals such as Phra Chaiwat Akkachayo (or Kruba Chaiwat), the Kruba Chaiwat Foundation for Peace, all related committee members, Provincial Electricity Authority officials, private electricity contractors, Saraburi Provincial Land Reform Office officials, construction contractors involved in building structures and roads, and those who cut down trees on the land, as well as other related individuals.

Regarding Phra Chirayudet Thammawanich, the chairman of the Kruba Chaiwat Foundation for Peace, the committee is currently investigating his affiliation with a temple. He will be submitting a request to investigate the abbot, similar to the case of Phra Chaiwat, whom the foundation filed a complaint against on February 24, 2026. The complaint alleges that Phra Chaiwat illegally acquired state land, cut down numerous trees belonging to the state, particularly acacia trees, constituting encroachment on forest land and land allocated under the Agricultural Land Reform Act. This falls under the categories of monastic offenses, including theft (Adhinnadana), second-parajika, and other violations of monastic rules.

While discussing the initial information and receiving the complaint, Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat revealed that this is an important matter and confirmed that all police units will conduct their investigations transparently, without any malicious intent towards Kruba Chaiwat and his associates, in order to maximize benefits for the public. Currently, they are investigating the forest encroachment issue, which is clearly evident from drone footage. The Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division is currently investigating. Regarding the live-streaming sale of several houses and monastic residences worth hundreds of thousands of baht, whether this constitutes fraud against the public is also being investigated urgently. A committee may be formed to investigate. He noted that Kruba Chaiwat has only been ordained for a few years, but a true spiritual teacher should possess a higher level of Buddhist teachings. Whether any individuals are involved or have provided assistance is another matter that will be inv estigated further.