Malayalam Star Mohanlal has officially declared the elephant tusks and ivory items in its possession to the Kerala forest department. The new statement comes as the legal matter surrounding the alleged illegal possession of ivory continues.
Mohanlal files a new statement
According to a BollywoodBubble report, Mohanlal informed the department that he currently has 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols. The statement comes after the Kerala High Court canceled the ownership certificates issued for the tusks in 2025. Officials are now expected to continue the verification process.
What is the case about?
The case dates back to 2011 when Income Tax officials raided Mohanlal’s house in Kochi’s Thevara area. During the search, officials allegedly found elephant tusks and various ivory artefacts displayed inside the house.The items were confiscated under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which prohibits the possession of ivory without proper government approval. After the seizure, a legal case was registered.Mohanlal later said that the tusks came from a captive elephant that died of natural causes. He also said he kept them as souvenirs and “didn’t know it was illegal to keep them.”
The High Court canceled earlier certificates
The matter took a new turn in 2025 when the Kerala High Court ruled that the ownership certificates issued to Mohanlal were invalid. The certificates had been granted after the government allowed him to declare the tusks in 2015 and ownership documents were issued in 2016.The court’s decision came after petitions were filed by retired forest officials and wildlife conservators. However, the High Court did not order any prosecution against the actor.In his last statement made in 2026, Mohanlal informed the Forest Department that he owns 10 elephant tusks, which is six more than the number declared earlier. He also declared 13 ivory idols. The idols include figures of Lord Krishna, Lord Rama and Tirupati Balaji, with a total weight of about 46 kilos.