The Supreme Court has rejected a fresh petition seeking the reopening of cases related to wildlife transfers involving Anant Ambani’s Vantara wildlife facility and associated entities, observing that Vantara acted at all times in good faith, and that an irregularity, if any, by a foreign exporter in its own country cannot fasten liability on the Indian institution that received the animals lawfully.
SC dismisses plea against Vantara
A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N V Anjaria dismissed the petition, which sought fresh inquiries by agencies including the CBI, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) into animal acquisitions and transfers linked to the Jamnagar-based wildlife facility.
Examining every animal transfer jurisdiction by jurisdiction — across the UAE, Venezuela, Brazil, the Czech Republic, South Africa and beyond — the Court found each to be a lawful, non-commercial, zoo-to-zoo movement, supported by valid CITES export and import permits and the requisite approvals of the Central Zoo Authority.
Dismissing the petition, the apex court observed that Vantara acted at all times in good faith, and that an irregularity, if any, by a foreign exporter in its own country cannot fasten liability on the Indian institution that received the animals lawfully.
Further, the court recognised that Vantara carries out conservation work of “true global significance” at Jamnagar — including direct engagement with Brazil on the reintroduction of endangered macaws and a conservation breeding programme that advances worldwide species recovery.
“Disturbing the settled, cared-for environment of rescued animals after their lawful arrival may itself amount to cruelty — an affirmation of the very welfare principles on which Vantara was founded,” the court observed.
What did the petition seek?
The plea, filed by Karanartham Viramah Foundation, relied on developments in foreign jurisdictions including Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Peru, Malaysia and Venezuela, as well as discussions before the CITES Standing Committee.
The petitioner sought fresh investigations against Vantara by agencies, coordination with foreign authorities, examination of wildlife regulators, and seizure of animals housed at the Jamnagar facility.
It also sought directions on obtaining material from foreign investigations and on examining current and former employees, consultants, and contractors associated with the respondents.
‘Settled and vested right accrued’
However, the top court dismissed all relief sought in the petition, recognising that a settled and vested right has accrued in favour of Vantara, its trustees, directors and management, with that protection extending to its founding institutions, the Reliance Foundation and Reliance Industries.
The court directed authorities to strengthen future compliance mechanisms under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) framework.
In its order, the bench observed that the matter had been previously investigated in exhaustive detail by a high-powered Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Supreme Court, which was presided over by a former Judge of the Supreme Court and comprised a former Chief Justice of a High Court, a former Commissioner of Police and a senior Customs officer, assisted by the enforcement and regulatory agencies.
CITES found no evidence of irregularities, court says
The SIT, assisted by agencies including the CBI, ED, DRI, WCCB, Customs Department, Central Zoo Authority, CITES Management Authority of India and other government bodies, conducted site inspections, examined records, sought information from foreign authorities and heard complainants, journalists and environmental activists who had raised concerns.
“In view of the SIT Report accepted by this court, the Greens Zoological and Radha Krishna Temple Trust, cannot be investigated, inquired into, much less prosecuted, in respect of the transfers therein examined, no direction can be issued to any domestic authority in respect of the specimens so transferred, and the matter cannot be reopened at the instance of any body, global or otherwise,” the Bench said.
The top also also referred to observations of that CITES Secretariat which said there was no evidence of animals being imported into India without the required CITES export permits, re-export certificates or import permits, wherever required.
The Secretariat had also recorded that it had found no evidence of commercial activities linked to the sale of animals or their offspring by the entities concerned.
How Vantara reacted to Supreme Court order?
Following the ruling, Vantara described the Supreme Court order as recognition of the institution’s integrity and principles guiding its ethical treatment of rescued animals.
“This judgment affirms the truth that has guided us from the very first rescue that every animal in our care arrived lawfully, was treated ethically, and is protected for life. The nation’s highest court has recognised yet again, not only the integrity of our work, but the spirit behind it. At Vantara, conservation is not a claim, it is a daily act of compassion,” said Vivaan Karani, Chief Executive Officer of Vantara.
“To every sceptic, our answer remains the same as our promise to every creature we have ever healed — Every Life Matters. We are humbled, we are vindicated, and we are more committed than ever to the animals who depend on us,” Karani said.
