Archive · 2 Nov 2025
Kerala HC Invalidates Actor Mohanlal's Ivory Tusk Possession Certificates
Imagine you found a cool old coin.
To keep it legally, you usually have to tell the government you have it, especially if it's something special like an elephant tusk.
Actor Mohanlal had some elephant tusks and got papers saying he could keep them.
But, the government didn't follow the right rules when giving him these papers, like not telling everyone officially in the government's newspaper.
Because the rules weren't followed correctly, a big court said those papers aren't valid anymore.
The government might be able to fix this later by issuing new proper papers.
However, a case against Mohanlal for having the tusks without following the rules is still going on.
The Kerala High Court has ruled that ownership certificates for two pairs of ivory tusks held by actor Mohanlal are invalid.
The tusks were discovered in 2011 during an Income Tax raid at Mohanlal's Kochi residence.
Mohanlal faced legal trouble for failing to declare the possession of the tusks as required by the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The state government had previously issued possession certificates to Mohanlal in 2015, attempting to regularize his ownership.
The High Court found that the notifications for granting immunity and ownership were not published in the official gazette, making them inadequate and invalid.
- Who
- Actor Mohanlal, Kerala High Court, forest department
- What
- Kerala High Court declared ownership certificates for two pairs of elephant tusks held by actor Mohanlal invalid.
- When
- Certificates issued in 2015, High Court ruling recently.
- Where
- Kerala, India
- Why
- The certificates were issued without proper declaration in the official gazette, rendering them legally unenforceable under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Actor
- Mohanlal
- Item
- Two pairs of elephant tusks
- Initial Discovery
- 2011 Income Tax raid
- Legal Basis for Trouble
- Failure to declare possession under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- Court Ruling
- Ownership certificates invalid
- Current Status
- Criminal proceedings pending in magistrate court