Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday discussed the return of Hathi Mahadevi with officials of an animal rescue and rehabilitation center Vantara Project operated by Reliance Foundation in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
A Wantara Officer assured Fadnavis of full cooperation with the Maharashtra government in the legal process, saying that the Center has no intention of keeping the 36 -year -old arthritis elephant, Mahadevi, is in possession and is taking care of it in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court.
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“I had a detailed discussion with senior Vanatara management officials in Mumbai. They have assured me that Wanatara has decided to participate in the petition that the Maharashtra government has resolved to file, which is demanding a safe return to Hathi Mahadevi (Madhuri).
The Chief Minister said, “During the discussion, he informed me that he was only following the orders of the Honorable Supreme Court and Mahadevi had no intention of taking custody of elephants on his own.”
Fadnavis also said that Vantara has expressed his desire to fully assist the state government in setting up a rehabilitation center for Mahadevi near Nandani Mathematics in Kolhapur district on the land selected by the Forest Department.
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Following a public outrage, Fadnavis had earlier assured that his government would explore legal options to bring Mahadevi back to a Jain Shrine in Kolhapur, as he was transferred to Vantara.
After holding a meeting on the matter on Tuesday, Fadnavis said, “Given public sentiments, the state government will intervene in the legal process to bring back the Mahadevi elephant. Jain Shrine will submit a review petition to 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 could set up a center with similar facilities in the Kolhapur Tirtha to take care of the elephant.
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Mahadevi, also known as Madhuri, Swastik Jassan Bhattarka Pattacharya Mahaswamy with Sanskrit Sanskrit rites for more than three decades for more than three decades before the Supreme Court for more than three decades to transfer the decision of the Bombay High Court to the Radhe Krishna Temple, the jam remained in turn,
This animal welfare organizations such as People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) contacted the court, underlined the impaired health of the physically weak psychosis and arguing that they were not receiving proper care in the temple.
The Supreme Court upheld the High Court order on July 22, after which Mahadevi was given a tear -filled farewell from the temple and transferred to Ventara on 28 July.
