Wildlife case: Mohanlal declares 10 elephant tusks, 13 ivory idols
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Thiruvananthapuram: Actor Mohanlal has declared to the Kerala Forest Department that he is in possession of 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols under the state's wildlife amnesty scheme, even as he continues to face trial in a case related to the alleged illegal possession of wildlife articles.
Officials at the Malayattoor Divisional Forest Office said Mohanlal submitted the declaration under the department's ongoing wildlife amnesty programme, which allows individuals to voluntarily disclose wildlife articles in their possession to regularise ownership. The actor had previously declared four elephant tusks and has now disclosed six additional tusks.
According to forest officials, the newly declared items also include 13 ivory idols depicting deities such as Lord Krishna, Lord Ram and Tirupati Balaji, with a combined weight of around 46 kg.
Mohanlal has maintained that most of the elephant tusks were inherited or received as gifts. Forest officials said all the declared tusks and ivory artefacts will undergo DNA testing to verify their authenticity and origin.
Under the wildlife amnesty scheme, owners of unregistered wildlife articles can voluntarily declare such items before the authorities to regularise their possession and avoid penal action.
The declaration comes while Mohanlal is facing trial in a wildlife case arising from the alleged illegal possession of four elephant tusks.
The case dates back to 2011, when an Income Tax Department raid at the actor's residences reportedly led to the recovery of elephant tusks and ivory artefacts. The Kerala Forest Department subsequently registered a case against him for allegedly possessing two pairs of elephant tusks without the required legal permission.
Although the Kerala government later sought to withdraw the prosecution, the trial court rejected the request. The Kerala High Court subsequently upheld the trial court's decision, allowing the criminal proceedings against the actor to continue.
Last year, the High Court also cancelled the ownership certificates issued for the ivory articles in Mohanlal's possession, setting aside a state government order that had regularised his ownership of the tusks.