Kerala high court serves notice to Mollywood actor Mohanlal in elephant tusk smuggling case

The forest department had submitted a charge sheet at Perumbavoor court in September claiming that Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is the first accused in the case. The case first surfaced in 2011, following an income tax raid at Mohanlal's home in Kochi.  

Kochi: The Kerala high court served a notice to Mollywood actor Mohanlal on Tuesday (October 15) in connection with the elephant tusk smuggling case. The notice is following a  petition in the high court which complained that no action was taken against the actor for keeping ivory at his home. 

The forest department had submitted a charge sheet at Perumbavoor court in September claiming that Mohanlal is the first accused in the case. But on Monday (October 14) the actor filed an affidavit in the high court against the chargesheet. Mohanlal said that he was granted permission to keep the ivory. So the charge sheet will not be valid. 

The Income Tax department had recovered four ivory tusks from Mohanlal’s residence in Thevara in 2012. Following this, a petition was filed against the actor by AA Paulose, of Udyogamandal, Ernakulam. The petitioner said on the date when the four ivories were seized, Mohanlal did not have a certificate of possession as mandated under Section 42 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 

Meanwhile, the forest department, which had taken a stance supporting the actor thrice has now taken a stand against the actor and filed a charge sheet naming him as the accused.