New Delhi: According to news reports, the special investigation team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court has posed nearly 200 questions to Vantara – the controversial Reliance-owned zoo, rescue and rehabilitation center in Jamnagar, Gujarat – pertaining to its financial transactions, wild animal acquisitions across India and internationally and more.

The SIT, as per reports, just concluded a three-day visit of Vantara last week as part of its inquiry into the operations and functioning of Vantara.

The apex court had constituted the four-member SIT – chaired by retired Supreme Court judge J. Chelameswar – on August 28 after it received two petitions requesting for inquiries into Vantara after allegations that the center could have acquired wildlife illegally caught from the wild both nationally and globally for its collections, as well as other allegations such as money laundering and others.

In its order, the court had listed out all these and other aspects that the SIT was to look into during its investigation.

Questionnaire after site visit

According to an Indian Express report, the SIT visited Vantara from September 4 to 6 to conduct an on-site inspection. According to another report in Hindustan Times, the SIT also met with the centre’s chief financial officer, director, and senior officials during this time. The report quoted an unnamed source as saying that the SIT had examined documents relating to animal transfers, funding, veterinary care and legal permissions. The SIT also inspected enclosures, quarantine facilities, and medical infrastructure to verify compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1973, zoo rules, and international conventions, the report added.

On September 9 that the SIT had issued Vantara a questionnaire with about 200 queries on its management. As per the HT report, which quotes two unnamed sources on this development, the questionnaire seeks “detailed answers on financial transactions, international acquisition of animals, compliance with wildlife and zoo regulations, housing standards, and procedures followed for international and inter-state transfers”.

Per the report, the SIT has also roped in 16 other agencies to assist in the inquiry. These include the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Customs, and the Gujarat Police.

The SIT has also reportedly summoned officials of the forest and wildlife departments of Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to also examine the transfer of elephants and other species from those states to Jamnagar. The SIT will also examine international transfers of animals, the report quoted two unnamed sources as saying. 

The report also quotes Vantara as saying that it would extend “full cooperation” to the SIT in this regard.

According to The Print, the SIT has also asked authorities at Vantara to furnish details of international partners who have donated wildlife species to the centre. They are likely to be interrogated too by the SIT, The Print reported.

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