Elephants, Enclosures, and Ethics: SIT submits Vantara Probe Report before Supreme Court
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi: September 12, 20025- The Supreme Court on Friday received a sealed cover report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Vantara project, founded by Anant Mukesh Ambani and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.
The SIT — constituted on August 25 under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court judge Justice Jasti Chelameshwar was tasked with investigating allegations of unlawful procurement of animals, mistreatment in captivity, and financial irregularities.
Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale, hearing the matter, took note of the report’s submission. The high-powered SIT also includes Justice Raghvendra Chauhan (former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts), Hemant Nagrale (former Mumbai Police Commissioner), and Anish Gupta (IRS officer).
In a comprehensive probe, the SIT engaged 16 agencies to assist in gathering evidence and compiling its findings. The court is expected to examine the contents of the report in the upcoming hearings before deciding on the next course of action.
The SIT was directed to examine and submit report inter alia on the following.
(a) acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants;
(b) Compliance of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and rules for zoos made thereunder;
(c) International Convention on Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) and compliance with import/export laws and other statutory requirements concerning imports/ exports of live animals;
(d) Compliance with standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care, standards of animal welfare, moralities and causes thereof;
(e) Complaints regarding climatic conditions and allegations concerning location near an industrial zone;
(f) Complaints regarding creation of a vanity or private collection, breeding, conservation programs and use of biodiversity resources;
(g) Complaints regarding misutilisation of water and carbon credits
(h) Complaints regarding allegations of breach of different provisions of law, trade in animals or animal articles, wildlife smuggling etc.as made in the articles/stories/complaints referred to in the petition as well as generally
(i) Complaints regarding issues of financial compliance, money laundering;
(j)Complaints regarding any other subject, issue or matter germane to the allegations made in these petitions.
