Hamanlal has been awarded possession of 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols from the Kerala Forest Department amnesty scheme. Veteran actor Mohanlal has declared possession of 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols by the Kerala Forest Department under the amnesty scheme and is currently being held in possession of 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols as part of the Kerala Forest Department and the Kerala Forest Department in the amnesty scheme after he is being held in custody of 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols as well as being accused of illegal possession of wildlife articles in a case of illegal possession of wildlife articles, while he is on trial for the possession of wildlife articles in the name of wildlife articles.
The Malayattoor Divisional Forest Office confirmed that the actor had submitted the declaration at the department as part of the ongoing amnesty programme which enables people to voluntarily reveal the unregistered wildlife articles in their possession to ensure documentation and compliance with the law.
According to officials, Mohanlal had declared four elephant tusks. In his latest submission, he declared six more tusks, taking the total number declared to 10.
The declaration also includes 13 ivory idols of Hindu deities like Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, and Tirupati Balaji. The total weight of ivory idols is estimated to be around 46 kilograms.
Mohanlal has reported that most of the tusks in his possession were inherited from family members or received as gifts over the years.
Forest Department officials said the declared tusks and ivory articles will undergo DNA testing and scientific verification to establish their authenticity and determine their origin. The verification process is part of the documentation process under the amnesty scheme.
The declaration comes while the actor is being sued for wildlife over more than a decade.
The case started in 2011 when an Income Tax Department raid at Mohanlal's homes led to the recovery of elephant tusks and ivory idols. The Kerala Forest Department filed a case against the actor for having two pairs of elephant tusks in his possession without proper legal permission under wildlife protection laws.
Even though the Kerala government later sought to withdraw the prosecution, the trial court declined the request. The Kerala High Court subsequently upheld the trial court's decision that the criminal proceedings against the actor should continue.
In another major development, the Kerala High Court last year cancelled the ownership certificates issued for the ivory articles in Mohanlal’s possession. The court overturned an earlier government order which had allowed the actor to keep the elephant tusks and allowed legal proceedings to continue.
The amnesty declaration is separate from the ongoing criminal trial, and the wildlife case will continue in accordance with court directions, officials said.
The Kerala Forest Department’s amnesty scheme has been introduced to allow people with unregistered wildlife articles to voluntarily declare them and allow authorities to verify, document and regulate such items under wildlife protection laws.
