The Supreme Court of India has refused to reopen investigations into international wildlife transfers linked to Vantara, the Jamnagar-based animal rescue and rehabilitation facility managed by the Reliance Group. A division bench, comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria, dismissed a plea seeking a recall of a previous court order and fresh probes by various agencies.
The court’s decision was rooted in the principle of a “bar of finality,” stating that all transfers up to September 2025 had already been exhaustively examined by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT’s findings were accepted by the Supreme Court on September 15, 2025, and reaffirmed on March 9, 2026. Consequently, the Bench declared that Vantara and its associated entities “cannot be investigated, inquired into, much less prosecuted,” regarding the transfers previously scrutinized.
The dismissed petition had alleged irregularities and ongoing investigations in several countries, including Brazil, UAE, Venezuela, Peru, Malaysia, and Uganda. It also sought coordination with international bodies like INTERPOL and the CITES Secretariat. However, the Supreme Court determined that these allegations pertained to the same transactions already reviewed by the SIT.
The judgment emphasized that even if irregularities were committed by foreign exporters or intermediaries abroad, liability could not automatically be imposed on the Indian recipient institution if imports were supported by valid CITES export and import permits and approvals from Indian authorities. The court also rejected reliance on media reports, social media posts, and leaked chats as insufficient grounds for reopening criminal investigations, noting the lack of corroborative physical evidence.
Significantly, the court affirmed that a “settled and vested right” had accrued in favor of the trusts linked to Vantara, extending protection against further coercive action to their trustees, directors, management, and sponsoring entities, including Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation.
Responding to the Supreme Court order, Vantara Chief Executive Officer Vivaan Karani stated that the judgment reaffirmed the organization’s position that every animal brought to the Jamnagar facility arrived through lawful processes and is cared for under globally recognized welfare standards. Karani described the verdict as a legal vindication of Vantara’s rescue and rehabilitation work, as well as an acknowledgment of its conservation philosophy.
“From the very first rescue, our commitment has been simple — every animal in our care deserves dignity, protection and lifelong support. The Supreme Court has recognised both the integrity of our processes and the intent behind our conservation mission,” Karani said. He added that Vantara’s efforts extend to long-term conservation, rehabilitation, and species recovery in partnership with international organizations and wildlife authorities.
While upholding Vantara’s position, the Supreme Court did acknowledge concerns raised by the CITES Secretariat regarding India’s future regulatory framework for imports of endangered Appendix-I species. It directed India’s CITES Management Authority to formulate a stricter Standard Operating Procedure in consultation with the Geneva-based secretariat within three months.