(Image source from: Economictimes.indiatimes.com)
The Supreme Court has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by former Supreme Court Judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar to thoroughly investigate Vantara's activities. This decision comes after several petitions and complaints that claim there have been breaches of environmental, wildlife, and financial laws. The SIT will consist of three members: Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, who was formerly the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts, Hemant Nagrale, who previously served as the Commissioner of Police in Mumbai, and Anish Gupta, an IRS officer and Additional Commissioner of Customs. This team has the authority to collect information from petitioners, regulatory bodies, officials, parties involved, and reporters. It may also broaden its investigation to cover other relevant issues to submit a complete factual report to the Court. Several bodies, including the Central Zoo Authority, the CITES Management Authority, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and the Gujarat government — along with its Forest and Police Departments — have been instructed to provide complete support to the SIT.
Animal acquisition: Investigating how elephants and other animals were obtained both within the country and from abroad. Legal adherence: Checking compliance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as well as zoo regulations. International standards: Assessing alignment with CITES regulations and import/export laws. Animal care: Examining the quality of veterinary services, animal care practices, welfare measures, and reasons for animal deaths. Environmental issues: Investigating if the location of the project is appropriate, considering its closeness to industrial areas. Collections and conservation: Looking into claims regarding unnecessary collections, breeding methods, conservation promises, and the use of biodiversity. Resource management: Checking for improper use of water resources and the carbon credit system. Wildlife trafficking: Investigating claims of smuggling and violations of wildlife trade regulations. Financial misconduct: Looking into accusations of money laundering and other financial issues. Additional matters: Addressing any other topics that come to light during the investigation.
