Mohanlal files new ivory declaration under Kerala amnesty

A prominent Malayalam film actor has submitted a fresh application to the Kerala Forest Department seeking to declare a collection of elephant tusks and ivory idols in his possession, reopening a legal dispute that has spanned over fifteen years. The move follows a Kerala High Court ruling last year that invalidated previous ownership certificates granted to the actor.

The case originates from a 2011 Income Tax Department raid at the actor's residence in Kochi, which led to the recovery of wildlife articles. Forest Department officials subsequently registered a case against him for alleged illegal possession of ivory. Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, possession of such articles requires valid ownership certificates.

Following the raid, the Kerala government issued notifications in 2015 and 2016 that allowed the actor to declare the items, and the Chief Wildlife Warden granted him ownership certificates. However, environmental activists challenged these actions in the Kerala High Court. In October 2025, a Division Bench of the court struck down both the government notifications and the certificates, citing a procedural lapse. The court found the 2015 notification had not...