The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed trial proceedings in the ivory possession case against Malayalam actor Mohanlal for six months [V Mohanlal v State of Kerala & Ors]..Justice PV Kunhikrishanan passed an interim order staying the trial proceedings before the magistrate court..The case against Mohanlal relates to his alleged illegal possession of two pairs of ivory tusks which resulted in the registration of a first information report (FIR) alleging the commission of offences under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.Mohanlal maintained that the ivory tusks were obtained legally and that in 2015, at the direction of the Central government, the Kerala government had issued a certificate of ownership to him.Subsequently, the State government issued a no-objection certificate for withdrawing the case against him.However, in June 2022, a magistrate court dismissed the State's application to withdraw the case. Both the actor and the State moved the High Court against this order..On February 22 this year, the High Court partially allowed the State's petition and asked the magistrate to consider the plea afresh.Subsequently, the State approached the magistrate with a fresh plea to withdraw the case.The magistrate dismissed the petition in August after noting that the plea was filed without disclosing that the validity of the ownership certificate granted to Mohanlal was under challenge in writ petitions before the High Court.Pertinently, the accused including Mohanlal were directed to appear before the Magistrate court on November 3..Thereafter, the actor moved the present petition to stay the magistrate court order.
The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed trial proceedings in the ivory possession case against Malayalam actor Mohanlal for six months [V Mohanlal v State of Kerala & Ors]..Justice PV Kunhikrishanan passed an interim order staying the trial proceedings before the magistrate court..The case against Mohanlal relates to his alleged illegal possession of two pairs of ivory tusks which resulted in the registration of a first information report (FIR) alleging the commission of offences under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.Mohanlal maintained that the ivory tusks were obtained legally and that in 2015, at the direction of the Central government, the Kerala government had issued a certificate of ownership to him.Subsequently, the State government issued a no-objection certificate for withdrawing the case against him.However, in June 2022, a magistrate court dismissed the State's application to withdraw the case. Both the actor and the State moved the High Court against this order..On February 22 this year, the High Court partially allowed the State's petition and asked the magistrate to consider the plea afresh.Subsequently, the State approached the magistrate with a fresh plea to withdraw the case.The magistrate dismissed the petition in August after noting that the plea was filed without disclosing that the validity of the ownership certificate granted to Mohanlal was under challenge in writ petitions before the High Court.Pertinently, the accused including Mohanlal were directed to appear before the Magistrate court on November 3..Thereafter, the actor moved the present petition to stay the magistrate court order.
