HC stays further proceedings in ivory case against Mohanlal

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court stayed the further proceedings of Perumbavoor Magistrate Court in the ivory case accusing actor Mohanlal. The stay is for six months. The lower court had earlier directed Mohanlal and others to appear directly in the case.

The magistrate court had rejected the state government's plea to withdraw the case. The court’s action pointed that the demand of the state government is against public interests. Then directed Mohanlal and others to appear in the court on November 3. Now the high court has stayed the further proceedings in it. Justice P V Kunhikrishnan's bench passed the interim order on Mohanlal's plea.

Two pairs of ivory tusks were recovered from Mohanlal's residence at Thevara in Ernakulam during a raid by the Income Tax Department in 2011. Even though the forest department registered a case, the government and Mohanlal had argued in court that these were the tusks of dead elephants.