Govt to file review petition in SC for Mahadevi's return to Jain mutt: CM
Devendra Fadnavis
said on Tuesday that state govt will file a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking the return of the elephant, Mahadevi alias Madhuri, to the Jain mutt at Kolhapur's Nandani village.
Fadnavis convened a meeting with the Jain mutt's top office-bearers and representatives. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, forest minister Ganesh Naik, along with ministers Chandrakant Patil, Girish Mahajan, Hasan Mushrif, Prakash Abitkar, and other MLAs and MPs attended the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Fadnavis said, "The elephant has been in Nandani mutt for the past 34 years. Keeping public sentiment in mind, state govt will file a reconsideration petition.
The mutt should also include the state govt in its petition. Also, a separate detailed stand will be presented in the Supreme Court on behalf of the forest department. In this, all the issues suggested by the Central Zoo Authority and the high-level committee will be resolved.
"
"State govt will form a team, including a doctor to take care of the elephant, and provide all necessary assistance. If necessary, arrangements like a rescue centre will be made and facilities will be provided accordingly.
A request will also be made in this petition through the state govt to appoint an independent committee by the Supreme Court to investigate these matters. Efforts will be made to bring Mahadevi elephant back to the mutt through the legal process," added Fadnavis.
After the meeting, former MP Raju Shetti said, "If Madhuri was fit before shifting her as per the eight different medical reports, then how come she became physically unfit after reaching the Gujarat facility in 48 hours? How did she get multiple fractures? Elephants from the North East were also brought to Vantara after travelling 3000 km.
An elephant from Vita in Sangli was taken to Vantara three years ago. What is its condition now? Three other mutts in the border villages of Karnataka have also received notices from the forest department.
"
MLC Satej Patil said, "If govt, and more specifically the forest department, puts forward the case properly, then only we will be able to bring our elephant back. The govt has taken a positive stand for the elephant, and we welcome it."
Meanwhile, the chief of Jain mutt, Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya, said, "CM Devendra Fadnavis has assured us that they will support us in this case."
The Bombay HC, responding to petition by Peta, ordered the rehabilitation of the elephant from the Nandani mutt to an elephant welfare centre operated by Vantara Trust in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The mutt appealed to SC against this directive, but following the dismissal of the petition, the elephant was relocated to Jamnagar on July 29. Since then, the issue has sparked a highly emotional and politically charged campaign across Kolhapur and neighbouring districts, including border areas of Karnataka, advocating for the elephant's return to Nandani.
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