#BoycottJio: Massive protest erupts in Kolhapur's village over elephant's relocation to Vantara
Kolhapur: Thousands of villagers in Nandini, Kolhapur, have launched a fierce protest campaign after their beloved 36-year-old female elephant, Mahadevi, was relocated from the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mutt to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar, Gujarat, a facility under Vantara, the elephant care initiative backed by Anant Ambani and supported by Reliance Industries and the Reliance Foundation.
The relocation followed the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the mutt’s petition, which had challenged the Bombay High Court's decision to uphold a High Powered Committee (HPC) recommendation to shift the elephant for better care.
While over 10,000 people gathered to give Mahadevi an emotional farewell, many reportedly in tears, the situation turned volatile. Some protestors pelted stones and vandalised vehicles, including the animal ambulance that transported Mahadevi. Despite appeals for calm from Mathadhipati Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya, the mutt head, anger over the court's decision spilled into the streets.
In a symbolic act of resistance, the villagers have launched a #BoycottJio campaign, accusing Reliance, via its affiliate Vantara, of “snatching away” their cultural and religious symbol. Reports suggest that over 10,000 residents have already ported their mobile numbers from Jio. A viral audio clip of a villager confronting a Jio customer care executive is circulating online, in which the caller says: “Our village’s elephant has been taken away by your owner. So now we are boycotting Jio. This is the first setback for your owner.”
Protests are being planned in Hubballi and Belagavi, with prominent Jain saints from across India vowing to escalate the matter. They intend to petition Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai to reconsider the decision. The controversy intensified after videos of the Nandani Mutt seer crying during the elephant's departure went viral.
However, many Jains consider the move a direct violation of their religious and cultural traditions. “Jains are known for their compassion and nonviolence. This elephant has been part of our spiritual life for decades. Across the country, Jains are being marginalised. First in Gujarat over the Girnar shrine, and now this. Bringing the elephant back to Nandani Mutt has become a central cause for many Jain shrines. We will approach the highest authorities to reverse this cultural loss,” TNIE quoted Gunadhatnandi Maharaj, head of the Varur shrine, as saying.
Bhuvankeerthi Battarak Swamiji of Kanakagiri Mutt also raised concerns, questioning the rationale behind the decision: “Do we, who run over 14,000 gaushalas, need to be taught about animal welfare? Could the government not have worked with the mutt to improve conditions rather than relocating the elephant? If Maharashtra lacks its own facility, why must the animal be sent all the way to Gujarat?”
The mutt claimed ownership of the elephant since 1992 and argued that Mahadevi’s presence was integral to local religious traditions. However, the courts sided with animal welfare authorities. On July 16, 2025, a bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale ruled that the elephant’s right to a quality life took precedence over religious customs.
The court relied on a June 2024 report submitted to the HPC which painted a grim picture of Mahadevi's well-being, citing poor diet, hygiene, shelter, and veterinary care. The report noted the presence of decubital ulcerated wounds on her hip joints and other areas, highlighting clear signs of physical suffering.
The original relocation order followed a complaint from PETA India, which raised concerns over the elephant's health and treatment in Kolhapur.
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
