Kerala High Court Stays Trial Proceedings Against Actor Mohanlal In Ivory Possession Case For 6 Months

The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed the ongoing trial against against Actor Mohanlal in case for alleged illegal possession of ivory.

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan granted an interim stay of proceedings before Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Perumbavoor, for a period of 6 months. 

The actor was booked after the Income Tax Department allegedly recovered illegal ivory from his Kochi residence in a raid in June 2012. A case was accordingly registered against him by the Forest Department under Section 50 of the Wild Life Protection Act. 

Mohanlal had applied to the government in January 2016 and September 2019 respectively, urging it to withdraw the case claiming that the ivory was purchased legally. Following this claim, he was provided relaxation by the State which prompted the prosecution to file a plea to withdraw the case. However, the Judicial First Class Magistrate had dismissed the State's plea.

Later, he moved the Kerala High Court challenging the said order. Earlier this year, the High Court dismissed the actor's plea but asked the magistrate to consider the State's plea afresh.

Subsequently, the State approached the magistrate with a fresh plea seeking consent to withdraw the case.

This plea by the State was however dismissed by the Magistrate noting that the Wild Life Protection Act was implemented to preserve the broader national interests and not individual rights.

"Considering the legislative intention behind the strict provisions of law, the offences allegedly committed by the accused cannot be viewed lightly. Evidently, it is the larger interest of the country that is affected by the commission of an offence under the Wild Life (Protection) Act and not individual rights of any person," JFCM Anju Cletus observed. 

The Court below had further directed the actor to appear before the trial court on November 3.

It is challenging the said Order that the actor has approached the High Court. 

Case Title: V. Mohanlal v. State of Kerala & Ors. 

Case Number: Crl.MC 7350/ 2023