Actor Mohanlal to face trial in ivory case

Actor Mohanlal will have to face trial in the wildlife crime case booked against him for the illegal possession of two pairs of ivory as a trial court dismissed the State government’s plea to withdraw the prosecution proceedings against him. Though the trial court had earlier dismissed the plea of two public-spirited persons for their plea to intervene in the case as third party intervenors, the Kerala High Court had ruled in their favour and permitted them to put forward their arguments. Though the assistant public prosecutor (APP) contended that proceeding with the case would be a futile exercise and waste of the precious time of the court, counsel for the petitioners, opposed the withdrawal of prosecution by arguing that it was against the provisions of law and legal precedents.