The Supreme Court on Monday gave a clean chit to Vantara. Delivering the verdict on a PIL challenging the transfer of elephants to the wildlife facility in Gujarat, the court said, “There is nothing wrong with the transfer of temple elephants to Reliance Foundation’s Vantara initiative, provided due procedure is followed.” 

The top court bench noted that the committee appointed to examine the issue had submitted its report, which confirmed satisfaction with regulatory compliance. It has said that there is nothing wrong if elephants are transferred to Vantara from the forest department, as long as proper procedures are followed. The court noted that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) it had set up reported that the authorities were satisfied with the compliance and regulatory measures at the facility.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing Anant Ambani’s Vantara, told the court that some objections were being raised by countries that allow animal hunting, simply because India was taking positive steps for wildlife. He added that Reliance Foundation’s wildlife sanctuary fully cooperated with the committee and made its staff available, but some parts of the report were confidential and should not be made public.

The Supreme Court said it will review the report and take action if needed. The judges also clarified that they had not interfered with Vantara but ordered the inquiry after allegations surfaced. The SIT, headed by former judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar, was appointed to examine claims against Vantara. Its task was to check if the acquisition of animals, especially elephants, was lawful, whether the Wildlife (Protection) Act and international rules were followed, and whether veterinary care, animal welfare, environmental suitability, and financial transparency standards were met.

Reliance Foundation welcomed the investigation and said it would fully cooperate, emphasising its commitment to transparency. The SIT carried out on-site inspections in Jamnagar and consulted regulators, experts, and other stakeholders connected to Vantara. Vantara, located inside Reliance’s refinery complex and spread over thousands of acres, is now one of the world’s largest privately run animal care centres. It houses rescued elephants, provides veterinary care, and runs conservation projects.