Mohanlal applies under Kerala's Ivory Amnesty scheme; Seeks to declare wildlife articles - Reports
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has reportedly approached the Kerala Forest Department under the State government's one-time amnesty scheme to declare ivory articles in his possession.
According to a report by The Hindu, the move aims to regularize the wildlife articles and secure the legal protection offered under the scheme.
The amnesty programme allows eligible individuals to declare wildlife articles that were not previously registered. Successful applicants can receive immunity from legal action subject to the scheme's provisions.
Forest Department records actor's statementReports from the same website says that as part of the process, a senior Forest Department official recently visited Mohanlal's residence in Kochi and conducted an inquiry under Section 41 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
During the inquiry, the actor was reportedly questioned about the source of the ivory articles, when he acquired them, and why they had not been declared earlier. The inquiry forms part of the verification process before any decision is taken on the application submitted under the amnesty scheme.
High Court had cancelled ownership certificatesThe matter gained renewed attention after a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court delivered its verdict in October 2025. The Bench cancelled the ownership certificates that had earlier been issued to Mohanlal. It also set aside the government order that had allowed him to retain the ivory articles.
According to the High Court, the 2015 government notification had never been published in the official gazette. The ownership certificates and the permission granted for possession of the ivory articles lost their legal validity.
Even after the High Court's decision, the Forest Department did not initiate criminal proceedings over the alleged illegal possession of the wildlife articles.
Legal proceedings still pendingThe legal dispute involving the actor has not yet reached a conclusion. Mohanlal has already moved the Kerala High Court challenging a trial court order that rejected the State government's request to withdraw the prosecution against him.
According to a report by The Hindu, the move aims to regularize the wildlife articles and secure the legal protection offered under the scheme.
The amnesty programme allows eligible individuals to declare wildlife articles that were not previously registered. Successful applicants can receive immunity from legal action subject to the scheme's provisions.
Forest Department records actor's statementReports from the same website says that as part of the process, a senior Forest Department official recently visited Mohanlal's residence in Kochi and conducted an inquiry under Section 41 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
During the inquiry, the actor was reportedly questioned about the source of the ivory articles, when he acquired them, and why they had not been declared earlier. The inquiry forms part of the verification process before any decision is taken on the application submitted under the amnesty scheme.
High Court had cancelled ownership certificatesThe matter gained renewed attention after a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court delivered its verdict in October 2025. The Bench cancelled the ownership certificates that had earlier been issued to Mohanlal. It also set aside the government order that had allowed him to retain the ivory articles.
According to the High Court, the 2015 government notification had never been published in the official gazette. The ownership certificates and the permission granted for possession of the ivory articles lost their legal validity.
Even after the High Court's decision, the Forest Department did not initiate criminal proceedings over the alleged illegal possession of the wildlife articles.
Legal proceedings still pendingThe legal dispute involving the actor has not yet reached a conclusion. Mohanlal has already moved the Kerala High Court challenging a trial court order that rejected the State government's request to withdraw the prosecution against him.
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