Aaradhana Devotional Show – 9th May

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has officially declared 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols to the Kerala Forest Department under the state’s wildlife amnesty scheme, a move aimed at regularising possession of the items in accordance with the law.

According to officials, the collection weighs around 46 kilograms and includes ivory idols of Lord Krishna, Lord Ram and Tirupati Balaji. Mohanlal has stated that the elephant tusks were either inherited or received as gifts over the years.

As part of the legal process, the Kerala Forest Department is expected to conduct DNA tests on the tusks to verify their origin and determine whether they qualify under the provisions of the amnesty scheme.

The matter dates back to 2011, when the Income Tax Department reportedly recovered elephant tusks and several ivory articles during a raid at Mohanlal’s residence in Kochi. Following the seizure, the Forest Department registered a wildlife case against the actor, alleging possession of protected wildlife items without the required legal permission.

In the years that followed, the Kerala government attempted to withdraw the case, but the courts declined the request, allowing the legal proceedings to continue.

In 2016, the Kerala High Court set aside Mohanlal’s ownership certificates, citing procedural irregularities. At the same time, the court recommended introducing an amnesty scheme that would allow individuals to voluntarily declare wildlife articles and seek legal regularisation.

Mohanlal has now availed himself of that scheme by declaring the ivory items to the Forest Department. However, the criminal case related to the alleged illegal possession of wildlife articles remains pending before the court. Meanwhile, the veteran actor continues to work on his upcoming film projects.