Kolhapur elephant row: Maharashtra government to file a review petition in SC over animal’s transfer to Vantara

After strong opposition from the public over the transfer of the Kolhapur elephant to Vantara, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court (SC) to bring back the elephant, Madhuri/Mahadevi, to Kolhapur’s Nandani village.

Following a high-level review meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “The State government will file a review petition in the SC to bring her back from Vantara, an animal rescue centre run by Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar, Gujarat.”

“We will also request SC in this petition to appoint an independent committee to investigate the issue,” he said, adding that the government would make efforts through all legal means to bring her back.

The move comes after widespread protests across Kolhapur, Sangli district, where villagers demonstrated against Madhuri’s transfer from the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sansthan Mutt. The protests included a “boycott Jio and Reliance products” signature campaign, wherein over two lakh signatures opposing the transfer were sent to President Draupadi Murmu, and a rally from Nadani to Kolhapur covering around 40 km.

Mr. Fadnavis said the government would form a team, which included a veterinarian, to provide care for Madhuri once she was back and establish a rescue centre if needed.

The protests began after villagers bid a farewell to Madhuri on July 30, following a Bombay High Court ruling, upheld by the Supreme Court, ordering rehabilitation of the “ailing” elephant at Vantara, based on a petition by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Former MP Raju Shetti alleged that PETA was “stealing” elephants, forcing people to break their cultural norms. “PETA has misled the government and the court. We have a rehabilitation centre in Gadchiroli district, Karnataka, and Kerala. We will prove their fraud in the coming days. However, till then we will take our ban Jio movement across the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congress MLC Satej Patil said, “We have no other option than filing a petition in SC as the High Power Committee (HPC) took a decision based on the Forest Department report and SC approved it. So, the government’s role is crucial. We expect a positive outcome.”