The Supreme Court has received a sealed cover report from the SIT investigating Vantara, Anant Ambani’s Jamnagar animal rescue project. The probe covers wildlife transfers, financial irregularities, and money laundering allegations.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday confirmed that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was set up by the Court to carry out a fact-finding inquiry into the Vantara Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has submitted its report.
The report has been given in a sealed cover along with annexures and a pen drive containing supporting material in the case.
The Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale, while recording the development, said:
“It is accepted and directed to be taken on record.”
This statement was part of the Court’s order dated September 12.
The SIT was formed on August 25, 2025, under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar. It was directed to investigate serious allegations relating to Vantara’s operations.
The matters to be probed included unlawful procurement of animals, mistreatment of animals in captivity, irregularities in financial dealings, procedural lapses, and even suspected money laundering.
Apart from Justice Chelameswar, the SIT also includes Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, who earlier served as Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, and Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Anish Gupta.
As part of its work, the SIT team reportedly spent three days at the Vantara facilities. During this visit, the team closely examined the premises and circulated a detailed questionnaire.
The questionnaire sought information on financial transactions, compliance with international and inter-state wildlife transfer rules, and also asked about adherence to zoo and animal housing standards.
In addition, sixteen different agencies were involved in assisting the SIT inquiry. Officials from the forest and wildlife departments were summoned and asked to explain how elephants and other animals were transferred to Jamnagar.
The Supreme Court had earlier instructed the SIT to carry out its inquiry without delay and to submit its findings by September 12. The Court had also laid down a clear list of issues that the SIT needed to examine and report on.
These included:
(a) Acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants;
(b) Compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and rules for zoos under the Act;
(c) Adherence to the International Convention on Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) and compliance with import/export laws for live animals;
(d) Compliance with standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care, animal welfare, as well as investigation into animal deaths and their causes;
(e) Complaints about climatic conditions and concerns about the location of Vantara near an industrial zone;
(f) Complaints alleging that Vantara is functioning as a vanity or private collection instead of a genuine conservation project, and concerns about its breeding, conservation programs, and biodiversity use;
(g) Complaints regarding misuse of water resources and carbon credits;
(h) Complaints about violation of legal provisions, wildlife smuggling, illegal animal trade, or dealing in animal articles, as highlighted in petitions, articles, and stories;
(i) Complaints relating to financial compliance and possible money laundering;
(j) Any other issue connected to the allegations raised in the petitions.
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Vantara was established by Anant Mukesh Ambani as an animal rescue, care, and rehabilitation initiative under the Reliance Foundation. The project was formally inaugurated last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Thus, with the SIT’s report now officially submitted to the Court, the matter is expected to move forward on the basis of its findings. The Court has already made it clear: “It is accepted and directed to be taken on record.”
Case Title:
CR Jaya Sukin v. Union of India.
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