KOCHI: Forest department has come out in support of Actor Mohanlal in the ivory possession case which is undergoing hearing in the High Court. It also criticised the petitioner by saying that he seeks to gain publicity by raising accusations against the actor.

The department has also made it clear that there is no need for any review regarding the permission issued by the government by means of which the actor continues to possess the ivory. It also made clear that proper investigation was conducted before reaching the conclusion.

The petitioner, A.A. Poulose, had earlier claimed that the forest department is trying to protect the actor by hiding facts. However, officials from the forest department made it clear that proper investigations were conducted regarding the issue before giving sanction to the actor.

The ivory artefacts were seized from the actor’s house in Kochi during an Income Tax raid in 2012 following which the case was taken up by the forest department.