New Delhi: Three weeks after the Supreme Court set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an inquiry into the affairs of Vantara, Reliance Foundation’s wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, the top court has given it a clean chit, ruling that all pending complaints and petitions against it be closed.
Saying that “no contravention of law” was found by the SIT, the Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale also barred any further proceedings on the same set of allegations before any judicial, statutory, or administrative forum.
The matter had arisen from two Public Interest Litigations (PILs)—one by lawyer C.R. Jaya Sukin, and the other by a petitioner identified as Dev Sharma—that had alleged large-scale animal smuggling, mistreatment and financial impropriety by Vantara and associated trusts. These were filed in the wake of the shifting of an elephant named Mahadevi from a temple in Kolhapur to Vantara in July.
On 25 August, the apex court had constituted the SIT, despite initially observing that the allegations lacked probative material. Given the seriousness of the claims, a fact-finding inquiry had been ordered.
Monday’s ruling comes after the SIT submitted its report to the court on 12 September in a sealed cover.
The Supreme Court has granted liberty to Vantara to seek deletion of any offending publications, or initiate action against those responsible for misinformation or defamation.
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024, Vantara operates through the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Trust, housing thousands of animals, including elephants, lions, leopards and rare birds. It is aimed at “saving wildlife and restoring their well-being with advanced care”.
Also Read: SC refuses to stay provision abolishing ‘waqf-by-user’, says abolition not arbitrary prima facie
Inside the SIT report
The SIT was chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar. Other members included Justice R.S. Chauhan (former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts), Hemant Nagrale (former Mumbai Police Commissioner), and Anish Gupta (IRS).
The SIT submitted its sealed-cover report to the court Friday after investigating six broad categories of allegations, a summary of which was attached by the court in its Monday order.
Coordinating with agencies, like the Central Zoo Authority, Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate and CITES Management Authority of India, the SIT concluded that Vantara had committed no violation of various laws, including the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Customs Act, 1962; Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999; and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, among others.
The top court said in its order that it had “no hesitation in accepting the conclusion so drawn in the report”.
The SIT and the Supreme Court found that the acquisition of 40,633 animals in total by Vantara entities (29,274 by Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and 6,034 by Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust) was carried out with “regulatory compliances without any violation” of laws. The import of animals was fully documented and supported by valid permits, with multi-layered and multi-jurisdictional verifications.
The court thus noted, “There is apparently no merit in any of the allegations of animal smuggling or laundering.”
With respect to animal welfare standards, the SIT noted that Vantara facilities “exceed prescribed benchmarks” and operate at “the highest international standards”, even surpassing Central Zoo Authority benchmarks in several aspects. An independent audit by the Global Humane Society (GHS) awarded Vantara the “Global Humane Certified Seal of Approval”, validating its adherence to and exceeding “internationally recognised benchmarks”.
The mortality figures were found to “align with the global zoological averages”. Other allegations regarding complaints concerning climatic conditions, location near an industrial zone, misuse of carbon credits, water resources, or financial impropriety were deemed “wholly baseless and lacking even the semblance of factual or legal foundation” by the SIT.
Further, the ED confirmed “no breach of provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002”.
After viewing the SIT report, the top court observed that Vantara was in “complete and erudite compliance with law and regulations”, and dismissed the complaints as “speculative”, closing all proceedings on the matter.
The court has sought to put an end to what it termed a “cycle of speculative complaints”. It concluded by expressing its “appreciation for the painstaking efforts of the SIT for conducting the inquiry with commendable, thoroughness and fearlessness and with all promptness” with respective honorariums for the members.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
Also Read: ‘Dream of owning home can’t become nightmare’—SC declares right to housing part of right to life