NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday approved the court-appointed SIT's report expressing satisfaction on the issues of compliances and regulatory measures in procurement of animals at Anant Ambani's 'Vantara' in Jamnagar.
A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and P B Varale found that the special investigation team headed by former top court judge J Chelameswar examined the issues into the affairs of Vantara and it decided to give a clean chit to the zoological rescue and rehabilitation centre.
According to the summary of the report, the acquisition of animals by zoological rescue was carried out in regulatory compliance, the court pointed out.
“The authorities have expressed satisfaction on the issues of compliance with regulatory measures," the bench said, citing the summary of the SIT report.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, on behalf of Vantara, said when the committee came the whole staff of Vantara was made available, everything was shown.
He said there is certain proprietary information as to how these animals are being looked after and how these animals are kept in good health.
“Large monies have been spent with experts to develop this. There is some degree of commercial confidentiality. This is something which is the rival of the world, this kind of facility,” he said.
The bench said it is closing the matter.
“We are accepting the report…we are satisfied with the report of the committee," the bench said, even as PIL petitioner advocate C R Jaya Sukin claimed elephants from temples were forcefully being taken away.
It is to be noted the SIT furnished its report in sealed envelope on Friday.
The court said it will pass a detailed order during the day after going through the report.
On August 25, 2025, the court constituted the SIT under the chairmanship of its former judge, Justice Jasti Chelameswar, for an independent factual appraisal of the allegations, including violation of rules in procurement of animals for Anant Ambani's Vantara alias Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Jamnagar, Gujarat..
The SIT also comprised Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Court, Hemant Nagrale, IPS, and former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai and Anish Gupta, IRS, Addl Commissioner Customs as members.
The petitioners made the allegations of unlawful acquisition of animals from India and abroad, mistreatment of the animals in captivity, financial irregularities, money laundering etc. They also cast aspersions upon statutory authorities such as Central Zoo Authority, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as well as courts.
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