Vantara inquiry: SIT submits sealed cover report to Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday recorded that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by it to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the Vantara animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat's Jamnagar has submitted its report in a sealed cover [CR Jaya Sukin v. Union of India]..The Supreme Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale noted that the SIT has filed its report along with annexures and a pen drive containing supporting material. “It is accepted and directed to be taken on record,” the Court said in its September 12 order..Vantara, founded by Anant Mukesh Ambani, is an animal rescue, care and rehabilitation initiative of the Reliance Foundation. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year..The Supreme Court constituted an SIT on August 25 under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar. It was tasked with probing allegations of unlawful procurement of animals, mistreatment in captivity, financial and procedural irregularities, and suspected money laundering in relation to Vantara’s operations..The SIT also consists of former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale and Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Anish Gupta..The SIT was on August 25 directed to examine and submit report on the following:(a) Acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants;(b) Compliance with Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and rules for zoos framed under the Act;(c) International Convention on Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) and compliance with import/export laws and other statutory requirements concerning import/ export of live animals;(d) Compliance with standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care, standards of animal welfare, mortalities and causes;(e) Complaints regarding climatic conditions and allegations concerning location near an industrial zone;(f) Complaints regarding creation of a vanity or private collection, breeding, conservation programs and use of biodiversity resources;(g) Complaints regarding misutilisation of water and carbon credits;(h) Complaints regarding allegations of breach of different provisions of law, trade in animals or animal articles, wildlife smuggling etc. as made in the articles/stories/complaints referred to in the petitions as well as generally;(i) Complaints regarding issues of financial compliance, money laundering etc.(j) Complaints regarding any other subject, issue or matter germane to the allegations made in these petitions..As per reports, as part of its exercise, the SIT spent three days inspecting facilities at Vantara and circulated a detailed questionnaire seeking information on financial transactions, compliance with international and inter-state wildlife transfer norms, and adherence to zoo and housing standards.Sixteen agencies were roped in to assist the inquiry. Officials of the forest and wildlife departments were also summoned to explain transfers of elephants and other animals to Jamnagar..[Read Order]