Why Kerala HC cancels Mohanlals Ivory Ownership in Landmark case

Kerala, Tamil Nadu, India: Renowned Malayalam actor Mohanlal has received a life imprisonment sentence from the Kerala High Court. Authorities discovered two pairs of ivory tusks at his residence. The actor had previously informed the court that he possessed the tusks with official permission from the state government, and relevant government-issued approvals were presented in court. While the state government had maintained that Mohanlal had not broken any laws regarding elephant tusks and that the tusks belonged to deceased elephants, the Kerala High Court delivered a landmark judgment. The court revoked the ownership certificates that had been granted to Mohanlal, ruling that such permissions were illegal under the law governing ivory. The court questioned, "How could the Kerala government grant such permission?"

Mohanlal has been embroiled in the elephant tusk controversy for the past 15 years. His plea to have the case dismissed was also rejected by the court. Back in 2012, authorities found two pairs of ivory tusks during searches conducted at his home, leading the police to file an FIR under the Wildlife Protection Act. The case pertains to the illegal possession of elephant tusks, which were reportedly kept for decorative purposes at his residence.

The actor maintained that he had obtained all necessary approvals from the state government in accordance with the law before keeping the ivory at his home. Nevertheless, the court annulled the ownership certificates issued to him by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in January and April 2016.