Custody Battle Over Kerala's Tallest Elephant Reaches Supreme Court
India's Supreme Court has ordered the Kerala state government to take custody of Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, the region's tallest captive elephant, pending a final ownership decision. The ruling prioritizes animal welfare after the elephant's caretaker violated court orders by using the animal for commercial and temple activities.
The decade-long legal dispute over the elephant, commonly known as Raman, has moved through local magistrates, the Kerala High Court, and finally the Supreme Court. Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma ruled that the state must house Raman in a rehabilitation centre. The court found caretaker Krishnankutty guilty of contempt and fined him Rs 2,000. He had violated an assurance given to the court on 6 August 2025, which stated the elephant would not participate in commercial or temple events.
The bench clarified that transferring custody is an interim measure. It does not resolve the underlying ownership claim. Instead, the judges focused on the welfare of a voiceless animal subjected to commercial exploitation.
Who owns the elephant Raman?
Two parties claim ownership of Raman. The Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt, represented by Jayakrishna Menon, asserts that the elephant belongs to the trust. Menon argued that Krishnankutty was merely a caretaker who unlawfully retained custody using invalid gift documents. The Mutt also noted that any transfer without approval under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 is void.
Krishnankutty countered that the elephant was lawfully entrusted to him through 2017 gift deeds. Under Indian law, transferring an Asian elephant, a Schedule I protected species, requires written approval from the state's Chief Wildlife Warden. The Mutt maintains no such approval was granted.
How did the legal dispute reach the Supreme Court?
The conflict began around 2018 and escalated into a criminal case. In 2023, Krishnankutty faced charges of criminal breach of trust and cheating under the Indian Penal Code. The Mutt also filed an application under the Code of Criminal Procedure, seeking interim custody of the elephant, which stands 11 feet tall and weighs roughly 6,000 kg.
A trial court granted the Mutt interim custody in 2023, but the High Court intervened. In 2024, the Supreme Court maintained the status quo, allowing Raman to remain with Krishnankutty while ordering a health report. When the Mutt raised fresh concerns in 2025 about the elephant's physical condition and commercial use, the court sought a new health assessment. Krishnankutty assured the court that the exploitation would cease.
The health report was delayed because Raman was experiencing musth, a period of heightened aggression in adult male elephants. When the inspection finally occurred, a three-member team found Raman participating in a temple festival. Krishnankutty argued that veterinarians advised walking the elephant for physical recovery after musth. The Supreme Court rejected this defence, ruling that Krishnankutty had wilfully disobeyed the court's order.