Malayalam star Mohanlal has officially declared the elephant tusks and ivory items in his possession to the Kerala Forest Department. The fresh declaration comes as the legal matter related to the alleged illegal possession of ivory continues.
Mohanlal submits fresh declaration
As per a report by BollywoodBubble, Mohanlal informed the department he currently owns 10 elephant tusks and 13 ivory idols. The declaration comes after the Kerala High Court cancelled 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 several ivory artefacts displayed inside the house.The items were seized under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which prohibits possessing ivory without proper government approval. After the seizure, a legal case was registered.Later, Mohanlal said the tusks came from a captive elephant that died of natural causes. He also said he kept them as memorabilia and “did not know it was unlawful to keep them.”
High Court cancelled 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 papers were issued in 2016.The court’s decision came after petitions were filed by retired forest officials and wildlife conservationists. However, the High Court did not order any prosecution against the actor.In his latest declaration made in 2026, Mohanlal informed the Forest Department that he possesses 10 elephant tusks, which is six more than the number declared earlier. He also declared 13 ivory idols. The idols reportedly include figures of Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, and Tirupati Balaji, with a total weight of around 46 kilograms.