A vigilance court in Kerala has ordered for a verification probe against Malayalam actor Mohanlal for possessing elephant tusks.
Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court, acting on a complaint by an activist, A.A. Paulose, asked the department to complete the probe and submit its report by November 28.
A probe has also been ordered against former minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
The case first surfaced in 2011 following an income tax raid at the actor’s house in Kochi, Kerala.
Forest Department officials registered a case against Mohanlal and two others in 2012, naming the actor as the first accused.
Mohanlal maintained that he had purchased the tusks, following which Chief Minister Oommen Chandy asked Radhakrishnan to look into the matter.
According to rules, possession of elephant tusks by anyone is against the Forest and Wildlife Act.
The petitioner said the forest officials had erred in their duty and did not act according to the law.
