The Supreme Court on September 15, 2025 dismissed a batch of PILs filed against the Respondent – Vantara (Greens Zoological Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre and Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust) projects linked to Anant Ambani—alleging illegal smuggling and laundering of exotic animals, violations of wildlife and financial laws, and misuse of resources. The Court dismissed the PILs explicitly on the strength of the report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which found no violations of law.
The Court, on 25 August 2025, had constituted the SIT under Justice Jasti Chelameswar (former Supreme Court Judge), with Justice R.S. Chauhan, Hemant Nagrale, and Anish Gupta as members, to conduct a fact-finding inquiry. The SIT was tasked with examining Vantara’s activities in coordination with agencies including the Central Zoo Authority, CBI, ED, DRI, Customs, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, and CITES authorities in India and abroad. It carried out inspections, reviewed extensive records and permits, and heard complaints.The report categorically concluded that no violations had occurred under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009, CZA guidelines, Customs Act, Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, FEMA, PMLA, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, or CITES. The Imports of more than 40,000 animals were found to have been carried out with valid multi-jurisdictional permits, mortality rates were within global zoological norms, and Vantara’s facilities were reported to exceed prescribed standards, receiving independent certification by the Global Humane Society. Allegations of smuggling, laundering, misuse of carbon credits, or water mismanagement were dismissed in the report as baseless, speculative, and unsupported by probative material.
The Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale dismissed the PILs as unsubstantiated, directing that all related complaints be conclusively closed. They further held that no further complaints or proceedings based on the same set of allegations shall be entertained before any judicial, statutory, or administrative forum, thereby ensuring finality of the SIT’s investigation and preventing repetitive or unnecessary inquiries.The SIT’s full report was kept sealed, with its summary forming part of the judgment, and Vantara was permitted to act against defamatory publications. The Court commended the SIT’s “thorough and fearless” work, awarding ₹9,00,000 each to Justices Jasti Chelameswar and R.S. Chauhan, and Hemant Nagrale, and ₹2,00,000 to expert Maheep Gupta, while acknowledging Anish Gupta’s unpaid contribution and the assistance of serving officers. The Ministry of Environment was directed to disburse payments within two weeks. Approving the work of the High Powered Committee under Justice Deepak Verma, the Court disposed of the petitions, closed pending applications, and consigned the record.
Appearances:
For the Petitioner(s):Petitioner-in-person
For the Respondent(s): Solicitor General Mr. Tushar Mehta (For State of Gujarat), Mr. Harish Salve Senior Advocate assisted by Mr. Manish Tiwari (AOR) and Mr. Shardul Singh, Additional Solicitor General Mr. K.M. Nataraj and Ms. Aishwarya Bhati ( For UOI)
