Mohanlal must appear in court in person; court rejects government's request to withdraw ivory possession case

KOCHI: Actor Mohanlal has been asked to appear in person in court in the ivory possession case. The Perumbavoor Magistrate's Court directed that Mohanlal and the other accused should appear in person on November 3. The court gave the directive while considering the state government's request to withdraw the case. The court rejected the government's request to withdraw the case citing that it was against the public interest.

Mohanlal is the first accused in the case. The other accused in the case are PN Krishnakumar from Thrissur, K. Krishnakumar from Thrippunithura, and Nalini Radhakrishnan. Income Tax Department officials had recovered four ivory tusks from Mohanlal's house in Thevara in 2012. Later, it became clear that Mohanlal kept the tusks under the license of two others. Mohanlal explained that he bought the ivory tusks from K Krishnakumar for Rs 65,000.

Although the forest department had initially registered a case, it later canceled the case. Later, the government amended the current law and gave permission to Mohanlal to keep the ivory tusks in his possession. However, Ernakulam native AA Paulus approached the High Court demanding the cancellation of the order of the Principal Chief Conservator who issued the ownership certificate of the tusks to Mohanlal. The government also took the stand that the case should be closed. However, the court has now taken a stand that is not favourable for both parties.