Illegal Elephant Procession: Why No Action Against Bhor MLA?

Pune, 5th February 2025: The Pune forest department has initiated action against an event organiser and an elephant owner for violating the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, but has failed to act against newly elected Bhor MLA Shankar Mandekar from the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar), who was at the centre of the illegal elephant procession.
The department has filed a Preliminary Observation Report (POR) against Rahul Balkawade, the organiser from Urawade village in Mulshi, and the elephant owner from Sangli district. The authorities claim they will seize the animal and investigate the case, but there has been no mention of any legal action against Mandekar, who was seen sitting on the elephant.
On Sunday, during a grand felicitation event for Mandekar, a procession was held with the MLA seated atop an elephant. Photographs and videos of the event went viral on social media, prompting Honorary Wildlife Warden Aditya Paranjape to file a complaint. However, while the forest department has been quick to act against the organiser and the elephant owner, it has conspicuously avoided naming the politician in the case.
Earlier MLA Mandekar had said, “The programme was organised by the villagers to celebrate my victory. The permissions related to the elephant were obtained by the organisers and I was not aware of the details of the same. Since the programme was organised in my honour, I went there out of respect for the villagers and to participate in their celebration.”
Range Forest Officer Pratap Jagtap confirmed that the elephant procession violated multiple provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. “Elephant processions are not permitted under the law. While the organiser presented a permission document, it only allowed the use of the elephant for transportation, not a procession. Additionally, firecrackers and music bands, which were used in the event, are strictly prohibited,” Jagtap said.
Despite these violations, the department has only booked the organiser and the elephant owner under Sections 49, 51(1), 57, 50, and 48(1) of the Act, sparing Mandekar, whose direct involvement is evident.
The forest department’s reluctance to act against the MLA raises serious concerns about selective enforcement of the law. If a common citizen were involved in such violations, strict action would have been taken. However, the political influence of the newly elected MLA seems to have shielded him from accountability.
Wildlife activists have slammed the inaction, calling it a blatant example of the law being bent for political figures. “If an elephant procession is illegal, then why is the MLA not being named in the case? This selective targeting of organisers and animal owners while letting the politician go scot-free is unacceptable,” said an activist, demanding immediate action.
As the investigation progresses, all eyes are on the Pune Forest Department. Will it take impartial action and hold the MLA accountable for violating wildlife laws, or will political influence allow him to escape unscathed?