Supreme court of India image; inset Vantara photo.
Credit: iStock photo and PMO via PTI Photo
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said that the SIT constituted by it has reported that the authorities have expressed satisfaction on the issues of compliance and regulatory measures in procurement of animals at Anant Ambani's 'Vantara' in Jamnagar.
A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and P B Varale found that the special investigation team headed by former top court judge J Chelameswar inquired into the affairs of Vantara and it decided to give a clean chit to the zoological rescue and rehabilitation centre.
The court noted that according to the summary of the report, the acquisition of animals by zoological rescue was carried out in regulatory compliance.
“The authorities have expressed satisfaction on the issues of compliance with regulatory measures," the bench said, citing the summary of the SIT report.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing Vantara, said when the committee came the whole staff of Vantara was made available, everything was shown. Salve said there is certain proprietary information as to how these animals are being looked after and how these animals are kept in good health.
“Large monies have been spent with experts to develop this. There is some degree of commercial confidentiality. This is something which is the rival of the world, this kind of facility,” he said.
The bench said it is closing the matter.
“We are accepting the report…we are satisfied with the report of the committee," the bench said.
The report was submitted on Friday.
The court said it will pass a detailed order during the day after going through the report.
On August 25, 2025, the court constituted the SIT under the chairmanship of its former judge, Justice Jasti Chelameswar, for an independent factual appraisal of the allegations, including violation of rules in procurement of animals for Anant Ambani's Vantara alias Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Jamnagar, Gujarat..
The order was passed on a plea by advocate C R Jaya Sukin.
The SIT also comprised Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Court, Hemant Nagrale, IPS, and former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai and Anish Gupta, IRS, Addl Commissioner Customs as members.