NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has cleared Vantara, the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), and Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) of all charges of animal smuggling, financial irregularities, and welfare violations.
A Bench of Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Prasanna B. Varale accepted the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was appointed in August to probe allegations of illegal animal acquisition, misuse of resources, and money laundering.
The SIT — comprising former judges Justice Jasti Chelameswar and Justice R.S. Chauhan, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, and IRS officer Anish Gupta — conducted a three-week inquiry with inputs from the CBI, ED, DRI, Central Zoo Authority, and international agencies.
SIT Findings
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Vantara’s acquisition of over 40,000 animals complied with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, CITES norms, and zoo regulations.
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Animal care, veterinary facilities, and welfare standards were found to exceed Central Zoo Authority benchmarks.
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The Humane Society International awarded Vantara its Global Humane Certified™ Seal of Approval after an independent nine-day audit.
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Financial allegations, including misuse of carbon credits and money laundering, were dismissed as “frivolous.”
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Conservation programmes, including successful breeding of cheetahs, vultures, gharials, and rare macaws, were validated as lawful and scientific.
Supreme Court Directions
The Court ordered closure of all complaints, barred repetitive litigation on the same issues, and suggested greater transparency through limited public access and global zoo body memberships. It also allowed Vantara to pursue legal action against misinformation.
Calling Vantara a “modern-day Noah’s Ark,” the Court said repeated speculative complaints only waste judicial time and undermine regulatory bodies.
