Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has launched an inquiry into the Vantara Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, owned by Anant Ambani. The SIT visited the facility on September 4 and is expected to complete its probe by Saturday.
Background of the Case
The investigation follows controversy in July after an elephant named Mahadevi was relocated from a temple in Kolhapur to Vantara, sparking protests in Maharashtra. The matter reached the Supreme Court, which on August 28 directed the formation of an SIT while hearing two public interest litigations. The bench of Justices Pankaj Mittal and P.B. Varale clarified that the court had not expressed any opinion on the allegations or cast doubt on Vantara’s operations.
Composition and Mandate of the SIT
The SIT is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice J. Chelameswar and includes former Uttarakhand and Telangana High Court Chief Justice Raghvendra Chauhan, ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, and Additional Customs Commissioner Anish Gupta. The team has been tasked with verifying compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and India’s import-export regulations. It will also examine whether proper standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care, and welfare practices are being followed at the centre.
