"Allow good things to happen in the country," Supreme Court on SIT clean chit to Vantara

The Supreme Court today noted that no contravention of law has been reported by the SIT as against Vantara and the complaints stand closed.

On the basis of the report of the SIT:

1. No merit found in any of the allegations of animal smuggling or laundering.
2. Welfare standards for the conservation and preservation of the animals at Vantara have been found to exceed prescribed benchmark and the mortality figures align with the global zoological averages.
3. Allegations of misuse of carbon credits, water resources, or financial impropriety found to be baseless relying upon responses from agencies like CBI, DRI and ED. 
4. The SIT also noted with approval the decisions of the High Powered Committee headed by Justice Deepak Verma(former Judge of the Supreme Court) with regard to matters related to transfer of elephants in India.

Accordingly, court has ordered, "No further complaint or proceedings based upon such same set of allegations shall be entertained before any judicial statutory or administrative forum was to secure finality, obviate repetitive inquiries and investigation on issues concluded by the SIT".

Court has also left it open to Vantara to pursue its remedies in accordance with law for the deletion of any offending publication or for any action against those responsible for the misinformation or for actions for defamation or private complaints under the BNS, 2023 and if any such proceedings are initiated, they shall be dealt with on their own merits by the competent court/authority.

Notably, the SIT during the inquiry covered the entire range of allegations not only concerning acquisition of animals, smuggling, laundering, but also regarding welfare and husbandry, conservation and breeding, climatic and location issues, and financial and trade improprieties.

The SIT after thorough investigation in coordination with multiple agencies has clearly opined and concluded that there is no violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009, CZA guidelines, Customs Act, 1962, Foreign Trade (Regulation and development) Act, 1992, Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora.

As the matter was taken up today in court a bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and PB Varale told the petitioner before it, "Why should we make a hue and cry about everything..allow certain good things to happen in the country also..". This remark fell from the bench after it was told that "one by one temple elephant was being taken away". Addressing the petitioner's concerns, the bench added if the acquisitions were being "done in accordance with law what is the problem."

Senior Advocate Harish Salve appearing for Vantara requested the court to keep the SIT report with itself. "Suddenly countries where gun ownership is allowed have become sensitive to animals in India..", Salve further said, highlighting that international media would be keen to cover the issue.

On Friday, after having spent three days at Vantara, the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the Jamnagar based facility, had submitted a report in a sealed cover. The SIT had submitted a report in a sealed cover along with pen drive which also contains the report as well as its annexures.

During its visit, the SIT had issued a questionnaire seeking detailed answers on financial transactions, international acquisition of animals, compliance with wildlife and zoo regulations, housing standards, and procedures followed for international and inter-state transfers. As per reports the SIT has also brought in 16 other agencies to assist in the inquiry. It has also summoned forest and wildlife department officials to examine the transfer of elephants and other species to Jamnagar.

The Supreme Court on August 25, 2025, constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice Jasti Chelameswar to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into allegations of unlawful procurement of animals, mistreatment in captivity, financial irregularities, and money laundering concerning Vantara Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale had asked the SIT to conduct the inquiry entrusted to it forthwith and to submit the report by September 12, 2025. The SIT has been constituted with Justice Chelameswar as Chairperson, and Justice Raghavendra Chauhan (former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts), Hemant Nagrale, IPS (former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai), and Anish Gupta, IRS (Additional Commissioner, Customs) as members. The SIT had been tasked with examining acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants; compliance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; adherence to CITES obligations; compliance with import/export laws for live animals; standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care and welfare; and mortality data.

The SIT was also asked to probe allegations regarding climatic conditions, the centre’s proximity to an industrial zone, creation of a vanity collection, breeding and conservation programs, misuse of water and carbon credits, wildlife smuggling, financial compliance, and money laundering. The SIT may inquire into any other relevant matter and give its opinion on actions necessary and the manner in which such action may be directed by the Court.

“Any incident of non-assistance or non-cooperation by any person, authority or institution brought to the notice of this Court or noted in the SIT’s report, would compel this Court to consider taking appropriate actions or to issue directions, including action for contempt,” the order had cautioned. It clarified that the exercise was a fact-finding inquiry to ascertain the true factual position and enable the Court to pass further orders, if necessary.

The petitions before Supreme Court have alleged large-scale acquisition of animals from India and abroad, violations of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, non-compliance with CITES norms, and misuse of resources such as water and carbon credits. The Court noted that the accusations extended beyond the private respondent to include statutory authorities like the Central Zoo Authority, the CITES Management Authority, and even courts.

Stating that the petitions lacked probative material, the Court had remarked, “Upon the reading of the pleadings, we find that what has been presented through these petitions are only allegations with no material of probative worth. There appears to be no supporting material.” However, considering the nature of the allegations and concerns that statutory authorities or courts may be “either unwilling or incapable of discharging their mandate,” the Court deemed it appropriate to order an independent factual appraisal.

Earlier, Supreme Court had called petition filed against Vantara's operations and transfer of elephant Mahadevi as completely vague noting that the petitions were filed without impleading Vantara as a party. Supreme Court had on August 11 agreed to hear a petition filed against the transfer of 33-year-old female elephant named Mahadevi from a Kolhapur-based Jain Math to Vantara in Gujarat.

Recently, Vantara had clarified its involvement in the process of transfer of Mahadevi stating that it has been acting strictly in accordance to the binding directions issued by the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court. Considering the sentiments of the devotees, the leadership of the Jain Matha, and the wider community who have expressed their concerns and attachment to Mahadevi, Vantara has said that it will extend full support to any application filed by the Jain Matha and the Government of Maharashtra before the Court requesting Madhuri’s return to Kolhapur.

In July, in a landmark affirmation of animal welfare jurisprudence, the Supreme Court of India upheld the Bombay High Court’s decision directing the transfer of a Mahadevi from a Kolhapur-based Jain Math to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (Vantara) in Jamnagar, Gujarat

Case Title: C R Jaya Sukin vs. Union of India & Ors.

Bench: Justices Mithal and PB Varale

Hearing Date: September 15, 2025