Mohanlal ivory case: Setback to actor, Kerala govt as HC strikes down ownership certificates

The Kerala High Court on Friday (October 24, 2025) held as “illegal and unenforceable” the ownership certificates given by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Wildlife for the ivory items in the possession of actor Mohanlal at his residence at Thevara, Kochi, in 2011.

A Division Bench of Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian issued the order on a public interest litigations (PIL) filed by James Mathew, a former Forest officer, and Paulose A.A. of Ernakulam who challenged the grant of ownership of these items to the actor.

In his petition, Mr. Mathew said Income Tax department personnel had seized two pairs of elephant tusks and 13 ivory artefacts from the actor’s residence. Subsequently, the Forest department registered a case against the actor and three others before the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Perumbavoor.

The actor did not have a certificate of possession as mandated under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 at the time of the seizure of the ivory items. A certificate was granted later by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest in collusion with the actor. This is illegal and in violation of the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, the petitioner said, adding that no case was registered for the alleged illegal possession of 13 ivory artefacts at the actor’s residence.

The court held that the ownership certificates issued by the Kerala government to the actor in 2016 and in 2017 were legally unenforceable.

While striking down the government orders and the ownership certificates, the court said that it refrains from dealing with the arguments advanced on behalf of the petitioners about the manner in which the power to issue ownership certificates was exercised. “We feel that any finding on the issue might prejudice the actor and the criminal proceedings that are pending against him,” it said.

However, it went on to observe that the State government is at liberty to issue a fresh notification as per Section 44 of the Wildlife Protection Act, to confer the immunity envisaged under the provision to persons or class of persons envisaged under the statute.