Daijiworld Media Network – Kochi

Kochi, Oct 24: The Kerala High Court on Friday cancelled the licence issued to actor Mohanlal by the Forest Department to possess ivory, ruling that the procedures followed were illegal from the outset.

A Division Bench of Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian struck down the State government orders dated February 2015 and February 2016, along with the ownership certificates issued in January and April 2016. The court noted that mandatory procedures under the Wildlife Protection Act were not followed but refrained from examining how powers to issue the certificates were exercised, as such findings could impact pending criminal proceedings against the actor.

The court stated, “We therefore conclude by holding that the government orders dated 16-12-2015 and 17-2-2016 are void and have been issued illegally and are unenforceable.” It allowed the Forest Department to reconsider its decision and issue a fresh notification following proper legal procedures.

The case traces back to June 2012, when the Income Tax Department raided Mohanlal’s Thevara residence and seized four elephant tusks, which were handed over to the Forest Department. Mohanlal has maintained that the tusks were legally obtained and that the Kerala government issued ownership certificates under the direction of the Central government.

Earlier, the State had sought to withdraw the case, but the Perumbavoor magistrate court rejected the plea in 2022. The High Court had granted a stay on trial proceedings under the Wildlife Protection Act in September 2023.