Mohanlal Declares 10 Elephant Tusks, 13 Ivory Idols to Kerala Forest Department Amid Illegal Possession Trial

In a significant development in the long-running legal saga surrounding his wildlife article possession, veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal has formally declared 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols to the Kerala Forest Department. The declaration, confirmed by officials on Monday, July 6, 2026, was made under the state's one-time amnesty scheme, which allows individuals to voluntarily disclose unregistered wildlife articles in their possession. Antony Varghese Responds to ‘Kaatalan’ Review-Bombing Claims, Distances Himself From Fake Fan Page Spreading Misinformation.

Mohanlal Declares 10 Elephant Tusks and 13 Ivory Idols to Forest Department

The latest submission by Mohanlal to the Malayattoor Divisional Forest Office now encompasses a total of 10 elephant tusks. This figure includes six additional tusks that had not been part of his earlier declarations, adding to the four tusks previously disclosed. Alongside these, 13 ivory idols were also declared.

These idols collectively weigh approximately 46 kg and feature deities such as Tirupati Balaji (7.86 kg), Sree Rama (7.26 kg), Dasavatharam (3.97 kg), and Krishna (3.55 kg). The actor has consistently maintained that the tusks were either inherited through "ancestral/hereditary succession" or received as "gifts/compliments," while the idols were also obtained through "ancestral/hereditary succession."

Forest officials have visited Mohanlal's residence in Thevara, Kochi, where the articles are kept, to conduct an inventory. The declared items will now undergo DNA testing to verify their authenticity and origin, a crucial step in the department's verification process.

Mohanlal's Decade-Long Legal Battle and High Court Intervention

The saga began in August 2011 when Income Tax Department officials raided Mohanlal's Kochi residence and initially recovered four elephant tusks and 13 ivory artefacts. Subsequently, the Forest Department registered a wildlife crime case against the actor for illegal possession under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

In 2015, the Kerala government attempted to regularise the possession by issuing a notification under Section 40(4) of the Wildlife Protection Act, and in 2016, provided Mohanlal with ownership certificates for the items. However, this move faced legal challenges from conservationists and former forest officers.

A significant turning point occurred in October 2025 when a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian, cancelled these ownership certificates and set aside the government order. The court ruled that the certificates were "illegal, void, and unenforceable" because the prescribed legal procedures had not been followed, particularly noting that the 2015 government notification was not published in the official gazette.

Amnesty Scheme and Pending Trial

The High Court's observations paved the way for the Kerala Forest Department to introduce a one-time amnesty scheme, allowing individuals to declare wildlife articles for potential regularisation. Mohanlal's application under this scheme was initially filed with Malayattoor Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) P Karthik in March 2025, and subsequently forwarded to the Chief Wildlife Warden for further consideration. AMMA Row: Malayalam Film Actors’ Body Faces Internal Revolt Over Finance and Functioning After Hema Committee Report Fallout.

Despite this declaration, Mohanlal continues to face trial in the wildlife case concerning the alleged illegal possession of the initial four elephant tusks. The amnesty scheme, if approved, could provide immunity from further legal action regarding the declared items, but the ongoing criminal proceedings remain pending before the courts.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 06, 2026 01:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).