Supreme Court-appointed SIT gives clean chit to Vantara

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 15, 2025) noted that the inquiry report submitted by the court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), chaired by former judge Justice J. Chelameswar, has given a clean chit to Vantara, a zoological rescue and rehabilitation centre conceptualised by Anant Ambani in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The SIT had been tasked with conducting an “independent factual appraisal” of complaints and allegations of violations raised against the facility.

A Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale observed that, as per the report, Vantara had ensured full compliance with the law and regulations. “We have gone through the summary of the report. It notes erudite regulatory compliance. It notes that stakeholders also presented views. Authorities have expressed satisfaction with the regulatory compliance,” the Bench said.

When the Bench indicated that it would make the SIT report part of the order, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Gujarat, submitted that the Court need not annex it. Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing Vantara, supported Mr. Mehta, citing concerns that the report may contain commercially confidential information about the facility.

The Bench agreed and said it would consider making a summary of the report part of the record. It added that a detailed order would be passed in the matter during the lunch recess.

Besides Justice Chelameswar, the members of the SIT included Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, former Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts; Hemant Nagrale, IPS (former Mumbai Police Commissioner); and Anish Gupta, IRS, Additional Commissioner, Customs.

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The SIT was asked to examine the acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants; compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and rules for zoos; compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and import/export laws concerning live animals; adherence to standards of animal husbandry and veterinary care, animal-welfare norms, and causes of mortalities; and complaints regarding climatic conditions and allegations about the location of Vantara near an industrial zone.