Malayalam actor Mohanlal has acknowledged owning five pairs of elephant tusks, leading the Kerala Forest Department to request specific information about three recently revealed pairs. The State Forest Department has instructed Mohanlal to provide comprehensive details on the newly disclosed tusks promptly.
Mohanlal stated that all the tusks in his possession were gifts received over time. Additionally, he has declared ownership of 13 ivory artefacts, claiming they were also gifted to him. This disclosure is significant as legal proceedings regarding Mohanlal’s previous ownership of elephant tusks are still ongoing.
In 2015 and 2016, the Kerala government allowed Mohanlal to keep two pairs of elephant tusks, leading to the Forest Department issuing him an ownership certificate. However, the Kerala High Court later invalidated the certificate due to legal flaws in the ownership granting process. During a one-time settlement scheme for undisclosed wildlife items, Mohanlal informed authorities about three more pairs of elephant tusks in his possession, bringing the total to five pairs.
The disclosure has raised concerns about the Wildlife (Protection) Act, which prohibits the acquisition of ivory and elephant tusks as gifts. Legally, these items can only be possessed if inherited or transferred through recognized channels with proper documentation. This situation has cast doubt on the legal status of the tusks and ivory artefacts declared by Mohanlal.
Forest officials have conducted a preliminary verification, with further detailed examinations, including forensic and DNA analyses if necessary, to ascertain the tusks’ age, origin, and legality. If scientific tests reveal that the tusks lack required documentation and belonged to multiple elephants, the case could have significant legal implications. The Forest Department has requested Mohanlal to provide all relevant records to aid in a thorough investigation.
