SC refuses fresh probe into Vantara animal transfers

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has turned down plea for fresh investigation into the international acquisition and transfer of animals to Vantara (Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre) at Jamnagar in Gujarat, saying the apex court appointed SIT, headed by retired SC judge J Chelameswar, had already given a clean chit and found no violation of law.

A bench of Justices P K Mishra and N V Anjaria said the SIT's terms of reference were of the widest amplitude, covering every facet of the affairs of Vantara from inception, and nothing wrong was found.

"Upon consideration, we are of the clear opinion that none of the directions prayed for can be granted," the bench said while rejecting the plea.

The court did not find merit in the allegation that materials have since emerged in inquiries, investigations or prosecutions in Brazil, the UAE, Uganda, Peru, Malaysia and Venezuela that could have bearing upon international acquisition and transfer of animals. SC said all the issues raised now stood addressed already by the SIT and there is no need for fresh examination.

"The process adopted by the SIT was thorough. It held several meetings, conducted site inspections, afforded opportunity to all concerned to submit information and documents, examined the foreign donor zoos and entities," the court said.

SC said the SIT also "called for and considered the responses of CITES Management Authorities of, inter alia, UAE, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of the Congo, etc. and obtained information from all concerned, namely, CBI, ED, DRI, commissioner of customs at Jamnagar, WCCB and district police". "Notice was issued to complainants, journalists and environmentalists who had published or raised allegations, including those whose reportage the applicant/petitioner now relies upon and each one who appeared before the SIT was heard," it said.

In view of the SIT report, accepted by this court by an order dated Sept 15, 2025, and affirmed by an order March 9, 2026, the respondent "cannot be investigated, inquired into, much less prosecuted, in respect of the transfers therein examined, no direction can be issued to any domestic authority in respect of the specimens so transferred, and the matter cannot be reopened at the instance of any body, global or otherwise," it said.