After a boycott of Jio and Reliance products and a sustained political campaign to force her return, on 9 September 2026, a High-Powered Committee (HPC) of the Supreme Court ordered the return of elephant Madhuri (also known as Mahadevi) to the same bleak and lonely shed at a Kolhapur math that drove her to such mental distress as to kill its priest in 2017 and attack a bystander in 2022.
The latest order follows Vantara's decision to actively turn its back on Madhuri during the HPC meeting, despite long distance transport back to the math being dangerous for Madhuri, her continued need for specialised veterinary care (which it has been shown in the Committee's own recent report, does not exist at the math), and breaking of the deep elephant bonds she has formed during rehabilitation at Vantara after 33 years alone and in chains.
The order for her return has now been passed despite the Supreme Court's own HPC-appointed inspectors warning the shed where the math intends to keep her as insufficient and unfit for Madhuri's long-term management. They also cited concerns about safe water, a lack of provision for specialised veterinary care, no proper path for her to walk on, and insufficient socialisation provisions, among other problems. The math admitted to the sub-committee that the facility exists “purely for religious purpose” and not for Madhuri's rehabilitation.
After being relocated to Vantara, Madhuri had been receiving specialised veterinary care and was living in the company of other elephants. Socialisation is essential for female elephants who in nature live in multi-generational family herds. Vantara reports showed that Madhuri is now deeply bonded to another rescued elephant in Jamnagar, seeks her company, and that they participated in activities together, attended joint hydrotherapy sessions and communicated in rumbles and trumpets. The latest order on her return to the math will leave Madhuri without companionship or real care, resigning her to live in isolation yet again. PETA India's objections pray for Madhuri's permanent residence at Vantara, in accordance with judicial orders.
PETA India and Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) have each offered a mechanical elephant to the Jain Math, for use in the temple rituals, and encourage all temples to choose humane mechanical elephants in place of living elephants for animal welfare and human wellbeing. The Thousand Pillars Jain Temple in Karnataka is the first Jain temple in the world to welcome this technology with PETA India's help.
PETA India pledges to continue to work for the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court orders to be upheld for Madhuri's permanent rehabilitation at Vantara. Please join us in urging Maharashtra officials to protect Madhuri by ensuring that she remains at Vantara.