Ivory case: HC reserves order

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday reserved its order on the plea seeking to quash a vigilance court order in the case related to recovery of elephant tusks from the home of actor Mohanlal.

 The vigilance court in Thrissur had earlier rejected the petition to register corruption cases against forest and police officials, allegedly for not taking action against the actor.  The state government submitted that the investigation in the case is progressing.

 The petition was filed by Pramod of Moorkkanadu in Thrissur. He submitted that elephant tusks were seized from the house of Mohanlal when the Income Tax officials raided his house in Kochi on July 22, 2011.

Though the forest officials registered a case against Mohanlal, they had not taken any step to get him arrested, despite the fact he had committed a grave offence under Wild Protection Act.

 The petition alleged that former Forest Minister and actor K B Ganesh Kumar, who was close friend of Mohanlal, influenced the officials and saved him from being arrested.

The petitioner contended that it was a clear case of corruption.

The forest and police officials were hand in glove with the offender to shield him from the arrest.

 Counsel for Mohanlal opposed the plea and submitted that the petitioner has no locus standi to file a peition in this regard.