The Kerala High Court on Friday (October 24, 2025) held as “illegal and unenforceable” the ownership certificates given by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Wildlife for the ivory items in the possession of actor Mohanlal at his residence at Thevara, Kochi, in 2011.

A Division Bench of Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian issued the order on a public interest litigations (PIL) filed by James Mathew, a former Forest officer, and Paulose A.A. of Ernakulam who challenged the grant of ownership of these items to the actor.

In his petition, Mr. Mathew said Income Tax department personnel had seized two pairs of elephant tusks and 13 ivory artefacts from the actor’s residence. Subsequently, the Forest department registered a case against the actor and three

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