New Delhi: The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has given a clean chit to Vantara, the zoological rescue and rehabilitation centre located in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
A Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and P B Varale recorded the SIT’s report, which confirmed that the centre was compliant with regulatory measures and had satisfied authorities regarding its operations. The report, submitted on Friday, was reviewed by the apex court on Monday.
The top court noted that it would issue a detailed order later in the day after going through the findings. The SIT was formed on August 25 to investigate allegations of irregularities, including concerns over animal acquisition from India and abroad, particularly elephants, and possible violations of wildlife laws.
The four-member SIT, led by a retired Supreme Court judge, was constituted while hearing two public interest litigations that relied on media reports, social media claims, and complaints from NGOs and wildlife organisations.
Earlier, on August 14, the Supreme Court had termed one of the petitions — filed by C R Jaya Sukin, who demanded the return of captive elephants to their owners — as “completely vague.”
