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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Devendra Fadnavis shares update on elephant Mahadevi's return from Reliance's Vantara
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday held discussions with officials of the Vantara project, an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre run by the Reliance Foundation in Gujarat's Jamnagar, regarding the return of the elephant Mahadevi. The elephant Mahadevi has been with the Swasthishri Jinsen Bhattarak, a Kolhapur-based trust belonging to the Jain discipline, since 1992.(HT photo) A Vantara official assured Fadnavis of full cooperation with the Maharashtra government in the legal process, stating that the centre has no intention of keeping Mahadevi, a 36-year-old arthritic elephant, in its possession and is only caring for her in compliance with a Supreme Court order. 'I had a detailed discussion in Mumbai with senior officials of Vanatara management. They have assured me that Vanatara has decided to participate in the petition that the Maharashtra Government has resolved to file, seeking the safe return of the elephant Mahadevi (Madhuri) to Nandani Math,' Fadnavis posted on X. 'During the discussion, they informed me that they were only complying with the orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and had no intention of taking custody of Mahadevi the elephant on their own,' the chief minister added. Fadnavis also said Vanatara has expressed willingness to fully assist the state government in setting up a rehabilitation centre for Mahadevi near Nandani Math in Kolhapur district on the land selected by the forest department. Following a public outcry, Fadnavis earlier assured that his government will explore legal options to bring Mahadevi back to a Jain shrine in Kolhapur, days after she was relocated to Vantara. After holding a meeting over the matter on Tuesday, Fadnavis said, 'Considering the public sentiments, the state government will intervene in the legal process to bring back the Mahadevi elephant. The Jain shrine will submit a review petition in the Supreme Court, and the state government will help them by submitting an intervention application.' The chief minister also indicated that the state forest department can set up a centre with facilities similar to Vantara at the Kolhapur shrine to take care of the elephant. Mahadevi, also known as Madhuri, was with the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswamy Sanstha at Nandani in Kolhapur for over three decades before the Supreme Court last month upheld the Bombay high court's decision to relocate her to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar, managed by Vantara, for better care and rehabilitation. This was after animal welfare organisations such as the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) approached the court, underlining the physically frail pachyderm's poor health and arguing that she was not getting proper care at the temple. The Supreme Court upheld the high court order on July 22, after which Mahadevi was given a tearful farewell from the temple and shifted to Vantara on July 28.
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Elephant relocated to Gujarat facility run by Vantara from Kolhapur; devotees bid emotional adieu
People gave an emotional farewell to a 36-year-old female elephant, Mahadevi, at a mutt in Maharashtra's Kolhapur as the tusker moved to a new home, a Jamnagar-based animal welfare facility. The elephant was transferred to representatives of the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust run by Vantara, an animal welfare centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, from the Kolhapur mutt on Monday. The relocation took place after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by the mutt, challenging the Bombay High Court order upholding the decision of a High Powered Committee (HPC) to relocate the animal to the Gujarat facility. The pachyderm was given an emotional farewell by devotees of Swasthishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sanstha, a religious body, as well as residents of Nandani village under Karvir tehsil of Kolhapur late Monday evening. On July 16, the HC upheld the HPC's decision to relocate the jumbo to the Gujarat-based facility, citing an elephant's right to quality life must take precedence over humans' right to use it for religious purposes. A Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale noted in their order that the mental and physical health of the elephant -- Mahadevi alias Madhuri -- suffered when it was with a Kolhapur-based trust. The court dismissed a petition filed by the mutt against December 2024 and June 2025 orders passed by the HPC to transfer the elephant to the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust. According to officials, the elephant will reach the Gujarat facility on Wednesday in an animal ambulance. A large number of villagers came to bid farewell to the elephant with whom they developed a bond over the last several years. The original transfer was ordered following a complaint lodged by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India about the animal's condition. The Kolhapur-based trust contended it owned the elephant since 1992, and its presence at religious programmes was a part of a tradition. But the High Court cited a June 2024 report about the elephant's health, diet and nutrition, social environment, hygiene and cleanliness of shelter, veterinary care and work schedule, and said they "appear to be absolutely dismal". As per the report, the elephant suffered from "decubital ulcerated wounds" on its hip joints and a few other body parts.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Time of India
Man held for jewellery theft in Kolhapur, 3 absconding
Kolhapur: The Talbid police arrested one out of four accused who robbed jewellery, worth Rs95 lakh, from a Kolhapur-based courier firm staffer while he was travelling to Mumbai at midnight on Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The staffer, Prashant Kundalik Shinde (38) returned to the bus after a break and lay down on his seat when the robbery occurred. "There were four robbers. The staffer was alone in the bus. Shinde was dragged outside and he shouted 'thieves', upon which other passengers rushed towards the bus and caught one of the suspects. Three robbers fled with the sack inside, which had the jewellery," said K R Bhosale, assistant inspector of Talbid police station. The police arrested Rahul Dinkar Shingade (28) from Shinganapur village of Man tehsil of Satara district. The police said, "Our investigation is on."
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
After SC order, ailing elephant relocated from Kolhapur Math to Gujarat facility
PUNE: Following the Supreme Court's dismissal of a writ petition filed by the Kolhapur-based Jain Math challenging her relocation, 36-year-old elephant, Mahadevi alias Madhuri, was shifted to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust run by Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat, late on Monday. The transfer was carried out under tight security and with the direct involvement of forest officials. After SC order, ailing elephant relocated from Kolhapur Math to Gujarat facility Earlier on July 16, the Bombay high court upheld the elephant's right to dignified treatment and specialised care. The apex court on Monday refused to stay the Bombay HC directive, taking note of the argument raised by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India that 'the sentiments of devotees cannot override the fundamental right of an animal to health and dignified care'. The official order is still awaited. Initially, the transfer plan met with opposition from the locals. When the Vantara team along with forest department officials arrived at the Kolhapur Math, some locals reportedly pelted stones in protest. The situation was diffused only after police intervention. After the initial tension, the crowd eventually bid Mahadevi an emotional farewell. 'She is expected to reach the Jamnagar facility by July 30,' confirmed a spokesperson for PETA India that argued for the elephant's transfer. Dhairyasheel Patil, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), Kolhapur, said, 'As per the court's directions, the forest department issued the necessary permissions and ensured a safe transfer. We had assessed Mahadevi's fitness for travel prior to the move.' Asked why Mahadevi is being sent to a Gujarat-based facility, Khushboo Gupta, director of advocacy projects, PETA India, said, 'The decision was taken by a high-powered committee (HPC) that includes a retired Supreme Court judge, elephant welfare experts, and senior forest officials from both the state and central governments. The decision is rooted in expert assessments of Mahadevi's physical and mental health.' According to official inspections, Mahadevi suffers from foot rot, overgrown toenails, arthritis, and stereotypic behaviour such as constant head bobbing which is a sign of psychological trauma due to long-term solitary captivity. The Vantara facility offers hydrotherapy, expert veterinary care, and socialisation with other elephants, which the HPC deemed essential for the elephant's recovery. 'She will no longer be kept in chains or subjected to weapons,' Gupta said. Mahadevi was reportedly brought from Karnataka to the Kolhapur Math in 1992 when she was around three years old. While the math claims she came from a Shivamogga village, PETA said that there is no proof of legal ownership or documentation of transfer. The Math authorities had applied for an ownership certificate from the Maharashtra forest department but it was never granted. The elephant first drew attention when she allegedly killed the chief priest of the Math in December 2017. Between 2012 and 2023, she was allegedly transported at least 13 times across Maharashtra for religious processions — including Muharram and Bonalu — without proper permission, in violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. In October 2023, PETA filed a complaint before the HPC, citing violations under section 48A of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and the failure of the caretakers to ensure Mahadevi's welfare. After a year-long process involving inspections and hearings, the HPC ordered her transfer in June 2025. The Bombay high court upheld the order on July 16, directing the authorities to complete the relocation by July 30. The math filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court on July 22, challenging Mahadevi's relocation but the plea was rejected on July 28 clearing the decks for the elephant's transfer.
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Elephant relocated to Gujarat facility from Kolhapur; devotees bid emotional adieu
Pune, People gave an emotional farewell to a 36-year-old female elephant, Mahadevi, at a mutt in Maharashtra's Kolhapur as the tusker moved to a new home, a Jamnagar-based animal welfare facility. Elephant relocated to Gujarat facility from Kolhapur; devotees bid emotional adieu The elephant was transferred to representatives of the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust run by Vantara, an animal welfare centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, from the Kolhapur mutt on Monday. The relocation took place after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by the mutt, challenging the Bombay High Court order upholding the decision of a High Powered Committee to relocate the animal to the Gujarat facility. The pachyderm was given an emotional farewell by devotees of Swasthishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sanstha, a religious body, as well as residents of Nandani village under Karvir tehsil of Kolhapur late Monday evening. On July 16, the HC upheld the HPC's decision to relocate the jumbo to the Gujarat-based facility, citing an elephant's right to quality life must take precedence over humans' right to use it for religious purposes. A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale noted in their order that the mental and physical health of the elephant Mahadevi alias Madhuri suffered when it was with a Kolhapur-based trust. The court dismissed a petition filed by the mutt against December 2024 and June 2025 orders passed by the HPC to transfer the elephant to the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust. According to officials, the elephant will reach the Gujarat facility on Wednesday in an animal ambulance. A large number of villagers came to bid farewell to the elephant with whom they developed a bond over the last several years. The original transfer was ordered following a complaint lodged by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India about the animal's condition. The Kolhapur-based trust contended it owned the elephant since 1992, and its presence at religious programmes was a part of a tradition. But the high court cited a June 2024 report about the elephant's health, diet and nutrition, social environment, hygiene and cleanliness of shelter, veterinary care and work schedule, and said they "appear to be absolutely dismal". As per the report, the elephant suffered from "decubital ulcerated wounds" on its hip joints and a few other body parts. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
