Supreme Court to consider SIT report on Vantara on September 15

A public signature campaign to bring back the elephant Madhuri, who was relocated to the Vantara rehabilitation centre, back to its original residence in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur. The SIT was asked to examine the acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants to Vantara.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

The Supreme Court is scheduled on September 15 to consider a confidential report submitted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) chaired by former top court judge Justice J. Chelameswar, which was tasked to conduct an “independent factual appraisal” of complaints and allegations of violations raised against Vantara, a zoological rescue and rehabilitation centre conceptualised by Anant Ambani at Jamnagar in Gujarat.

A Bench headed by Justice Pankaj Mithal had taken on board the SIT report, submitted in a sealed cover with annexures and a pen drive, on September 12.

The court’s decision on August 25 to constitute a SIT was based on two petitions alleging the involvement of Vantara in the unlawful acquisition of animals from India and abroad, mistreatment of animals in captivity, financial irregularities, money laundering, and related charges.

The Bench had decided to form its own SIT to conduct an independent enquiry after noting that the petitions were largely based on media reports and hearsay.

Besides Justice Chelameswar, the members of the SIT included Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, former Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts; Hemant Nagrale, IPS (former Mumbai Police Commissioner); and Anish Gupta, IRS, Additional Commissioner, Customs.

The SIT was asked to examine the acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants; compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and rules for zoos; compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and import/export laws concerning live animals; adherence to standards of animal husbandry and veterinary care, animal-welfare norms, and causes of mortalities; and complaints regarding climatic conditions and allegations about the location of Vantara near an industrial zone.

The special team was also directed to take into account grievances about the “creation of a vanity or private collection, breeding, conservation programmes and use of biodiversity resources, misutilisation of water and carbon credits, breach of laws of trade in animals or animal articles, wildlife smuggling and money laundering.”

Published – September 14, 2025 05:29 pm IST

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