Tusk seizure case: court rules out graft

The Kerala High Court, on Tuesday, dismissed a petition seeking to quash an order of the Vigilance court in Thrissur rejecting a plea for registration of corruption cases against forest and police officials for not taking action against Mohanlal, actor, in connection with the seizure of elephant tusks from his house in Kochi.

Justice P. Bhavadasan, while dismissing a petition filed by Pramod of Thrissur, observed that no offence under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act had been made out in the complaint filed by a person before the Vigilance court.

No favour

There was nothing to show that the State government or its officers had acted in favour of the actor. Besides, the petitioner had not been able to point out any illegality or irregularities in the investigation.

Income-tax officials seized the tusks in a raid on July 22, 2011. Though the forest officials registered a case against Mohanlal, they did not arrest him despite it being a grave offence.

The then Minister for Forests, K.B Ganesh Kumar, had influenced the officials to get the actor off the hook, the petitioner alleged.

‘No material evidence’

Rejecting the allegation, the court said there was no material to show that Mr. Ganesh Kumar had gone out of the way to favour Mohanlal. What Mr. Ganesh Kumar did was write to the Centre for legalising the possession of ownership of elephants.

The Centre rejected the request. Mr. Ganesh Kumar had not in any manner exercised his power to favour Mohanlal.