New Delhi: Rattled by large silent protests in Kolhapur and in bordering Sangli district by visibly angry people demanding the return of elephant Madhuri, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Vantara representatives and said that the rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar has offered to set up a facility at Nandani village for Madhuri.Elephant Madhuri was despatched to the Anant Ambani-founded and owned Vantara following court orders. The chief minister of Maharashtra said Vantara has offered to join the Maharashtra Government’s petition in the court for Madhuri’s return to the state.Fadnavis quoted Vantara; “Vantara told that they are acting only on the orders of the Hon Supreme Court and had no intentions to grab the custody of ‘Madhuri’. The team also showed their willingness to build a rehab centre for Madhuri in Kolhapur near Nandani at a place selected by the Forest Department of Govt of Maharashtra. They also informed that they give highest respect to the religious sentiments of the community.”I had an extensive discussion with The Vantara team today in Mumbai. Good news is that they assured me that they are happy to join Maharashtra Government’s petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court for the smooth passage of the elephant 🐘 ‘Madhuri’ back to the Math.Vantara told… pic.twitter.com/X75AsYrOIb— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 6, 2025A silent protest calling also for boycott of Jio, a Reliance enterprise, like Vantara, in a 40 kilometre long march of “real Maharashtrians” took place from village Nandani to Kolhapur to “protest against movement of a natural resource of Maharashtra to Gujarat”.This, said protestors, “has shaken up the pride of Money.” The protests were attacking Jio as well as threatening to snowball into a Maharashtra versus Gujarat controversy.The Jain Mutt, where the elephant was kept for over three decades, as per The Hindu, said the Maharashtra government should give a date for Madhuri’s return. Vantara in a statement said the proposed facility would be developed along “animal welfare guidelines” and in “consultation with experts” from the High-Powered Committee and “consensus of the mutt”.It had earlier put out a video meant to illustrate the joys and benefits of the hydrotherapy pond.“The proposed centre will include a hydrotherapy pond for joint and muscular relief, a larger water body for swimming and natural movement, laser therapy and treatment room for physical rehabilitation, covered night shelter, open space habitat for unrestricted movement without chains, sand pit, on-site veterinary clinic, and others,” the statement read.The mutt welcomed the statement from Vantara but said it wanted a formal communication from Vantara. “…Vantara should have a direct dialogue with us as well, and the government should specify the return date of the Madhuri,” said Bhagate Appa, a representative of the mutt was quoted by The Hindu.The story of Madhuri’s relocationIn July, the Bombay high court ordered the rehabilitation of the female elephant, Madhuri, to Vantara based on a petition by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA. For 34 years, the elephant had been at a Jain mutt, Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sansthan Mutt, in Nandani village (Kolhapur).PETA claimed in its petition that Madhuri had been confined in chains and deprived of interactions with other elephants at the monastery.On July 28, as per The Hindu, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the Bombay High Court decision calling for relocation.But when on July 30, as Madhuri was moved to Vantara, significant number of protests erupted in Kolhapur and in Sangli.