#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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Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
