Supreme Court sets up SIT headed by Justice Jasti Chelameswar to investigate Ambani’s Vantara case. “Accordingly, we deem it appropriate to direct for constitution of a Special Investigation Team of respectable persons of impeccable integrity and high repute.”
New Delhi: The Supreme Court established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations against the Vantara Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which is owned by the Reliance Foundation.
The SIT will be led by retired Supreme Court Justice Jasti Chelameswar and will include former Chief Justices Raghavendra Chauhan of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Court, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, and IRS officer Anish Gupta.
This decision was made by Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale in response to writ petitions claiming that Vantara unlawfully acquired animals from both domestic and international sources, mistreated animals in captivity, and engaged in financial irregularities and money laundering.
The Court acknowledged that the petitions were primarily based on news articles, social media inputs, and complaints from NGOs, stating that there was “no material of probative worth.”
However, given that the allegations also implicated statutory bodies such as the Central Zoo Authority and CITES, the Bench concluded that an independent investigation was necessary to “ascertain the true factual position.”
The Court ordered,
“Accordingly, we deem it appropriate to direct for constitution of a Special Investigation Team (‘SIT’) of respectable persons of impeccable integrity and high repute having long public service,”
The SIT has been tasked with examining and reporting on the following matters:
- Acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants.
- Compliance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and zoo regulations.
- Adherence to the International Convention on Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) and compliance with import/export laws related to live animals.
- Standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care, animal welfare, and causes of mortality.
- Complaints about climatic conditions and the centre’s location near industrial areas.
- Allegations regarding personal collections, breeding, conservation programs, and the use of biodiversity resources.
- Issues related to the misuse of water and carbon credits.
- Breaches of various laws concerning wildlife trade and smuggling as highlighted in the petitions.
- Financial compliance issues, including money laundering.
- Any other relevant subjects related to the allegations made in these petitions.
The Court instructed the Central Zoo Authority, CITES Management Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the State of Gujarat to provide full support to the SIT.
The SIT is required to conduct a physical inspection of the Vantara centre as part of its investigation.
The Court ordered,
“The SIT based on its findings shall also give its opinion on any action necessary and the manner in which such action may be directed by this Court,”
The SIT is to submit its report by September 12, with the matter set for further consideration on September 15.
Vantara, founded by Anant Mukesh Ambani, is an animal rescue, care, and rehabilitation initiative of the Reliance Foundation, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.
In its order, the Court clarified that the SIT’s role is limited to assisting the Court as a fact-finding inquiry to ascertain the true factual position and help the Court make further decisions based on the report’s findings.
It added,
“However, this order neither expresses any opinion on the allegations made in the petitions nor this order be construed to have cast any doubt on the functioning of any of the statutory authorities or the private respondent-‘Vantara’,”
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