'No violations of law whatsoever': SC on inquiries over Vantara

The Supreme Court on Monday noted that multiple inquiries into the affairs of Vantara, the animal rescue and rehabilitation centre, have led to the finding that there has been no violation of law whatsoever.

- TDG NETWORK

A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale found that there is no merit in the allegations of smuggling of animals or money laundering against the Jamnagar-based facility, owned and operated by the Reliance Foundation.

The Court's observations came while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) plea, filed by one C.R. Jaya Sukin, who alleged that animals are being smuggled into and mistreated in Vantara.

In response to the allegations raised in the plea, the Court had, on August 25, constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice Jasti Chelameswar, to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the affairs of Vantara. Subsequently, on Friday, the SIT had submitted its report to the Supreme Court.