A special investigation team appointed by India's top court has confirmed that the acquisition of animals at Vantara, a private zoo owned by the son of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, complied with all legal requirements. The team of retired judges was assembled to investigate allegations of unlawful acquisition and mistreatment of animals at the zoo. They recently reported finding 'no foul play' in the management of the facility. Previously, the Supreme Court had indicated that claims against the zoo lacked substantiation, yet ordered an inquiry due to concerns about proper investigation by authorities.

Vantara houses around 2,000 species of animals, including elephants and tigers, and is located on 3,500 acres in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year and played host to extravagant pre-wedding celebrations for Anant Ambani, Mukesh Ambani’s son. Despite its splendor, Vantara has faced scrutiny from wildlife activists over allegations that the local hot climate is unsuitable for many species and the public's access is non-existent. Recent protests in Maharashtra followed the relocation of an injured elephant to Vantara, drawing public concern. However, the court recently rejected applications challenging this transit and confirmed that an independent inquiry had exonerated authorities from all wrongdoing.