New Delhi: In a major relief to Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Ltd, the Supreme Court on Monday gave a clean chit to its Jamnagar-based wildlife rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation centre—Vantara—after reviewing a Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) sealed-cover report.
A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale ruled that the SIT inquiry was “detailed and sufficient”, leaving no scope for reopening the matter.
SIT findings accepted by the court
The bench noted that the SIT had consulted stakeholders, sought expert inputs, and examined every aspect of the case before submitting its findings.
“The acquisition of animals by Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (Vantara, located in Jamnagar, Gujarat) has been carried out in regulatory compliance,” the judges observed, quoting from the SIT’s report.
The court asked Vantara to comply with the committee’s suggestions and recommendations, which will form part of its final order.
No further objections allowed
Justice Mithal remarked that once the matter is closed and the report accepted, no party would be permitted to raise objections again. Authorities, however, have been empowered to take necessary actions to implement the committee’s recommendations.
The bench added that SIT members, who conducted the extensive inquiry, would be paid a reasonable honorarium for their work.
How the SIT was formed
The SIT was constituted on 25 August, following petitions alleging illegal animal acquisition and regulatory lapses. It was chaired by former Supreme Court judge Jasti Chelameswar and included Justice Raghavendra Chauhan (former chief justice of the Uttarakhand and Telangana high courts), former Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale, and additional customs commissioner Anish Gupta.
Over three days in Jamnagar, the panel examined records, questioned staff, and coordinated with 16 agencies to verify allegations ranging from CITES violations to animal welfare concerns.
Arguments before the court
Appearing for Vantara, senior advocate Harish Salve urged the court not to make the full report public, citing commercial and proprietary sensitivities. “There is certain proprietary information as to how the animals are being looked after… A large amount of money has been spent on experts to develop these,” Salve argued.
The case originated from two public interest litigations filed earlier in 2025 by lawyer C.R. Jaya Sukin and activist Dev Sharma. The petitions alleged illegal import of exotic and endangered species, violations of India’s Wildlife Protection Act and CITES norms, and lapses in animal care.
About Vantara
Vantara, formerly known as Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, is a 3,500-acre wildlife facility located inside Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery complex in Gujarat. Established in 2023 by Anant Ambani, it houses more than 2,000 animals across 400 species, including elephants, lions, leopards, exotic birds, and reptiles.
Many of the animals were rescued from circuses, temples, or foreign zoos. The centre is backed by Reliance Industries and private philanthropy, with investments reportedly running into thousands of crores to build world-class enclosures, veterinary facilities, and breeding programmes.
Investment in animal welfare
According to officials, Vantara spends ₹150–200 crore annually on animal care, which includes specialised diets, international veterinary teams, air-conditioned medical units, and modern rehabilitation infrastructure.
Conclusion
With the Supreme Court’s acceptance of the SIT report, Reliance Foundation’s Vantara has been cleared of all allegations of wrongdoing. The judgement not only reinforces the centre’s compliance with regulatory norms but also underscores the importance of scientific inquiry and oversight in sensitive issues such as wildlife protection