An anti-corruption court here on Friday opened an inquiry into the allegation that K.B. Ganesh Kumar, MLA, had illegally owned a captive elephant for 20 years. The court issued a notice to the legislator.
Complainant C. P. Sasidharan, accused the former Minister of buying an elephant to gift it to a temple and then keeping it in his custody in violation of the law.
The complainant told Vigilance Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge John K. Illikadan that trade in captive elephants was banned.
However, law allowed persons to purchase elephants for gifting it to temples as part of an old religious rite. However, the buyer has to complete the rite and transfer the ownership of the elephant to the temple within six months.
Mr. Sasidharan told the court that Mr. Ganesh Kumar had purchased the elephant from the government-owned shelter for pachyderms in Konni in 1994. He had stated that the aim was to gift the animal to a local temple. The complainant alleged that this was never done. Mr. Ganesh Kumar named the elephant Kizhootil Viswanathan and kept it as his own. The complainant also accused the legislator of renting out the elephant for pageants and temple ceremonies to earn money. It was also made to haul timber, he alleged.
Mr. Sasidharan also submitted in court documents, which purportedly showed Mr. Ganesh Kumar as the elephant’s owner. He also pleaded that the court prosecute Mr. Ganesh Kumar under anti-corruption and forest laws. The court will hear the case again on July 17.
