Guwahati, Nov. 9 -- The transfer of five captive elephants from Assam to temples and religious institutions in Tamil Nadu has taken a more troubling turn, with questions emerging over their ownership, genetic origins and the credibility of the documentation used to facilitate their movement.

What initially appeared to be a case of five elephants being donated to religious institutions has increasingly drawn scrutiny over whether the animals were genuinely gifted, purchased or transferred through a chain of ownership that remains inadequately explained.

The five elephants - Durga, Hiralal, Shiva, Rupsing and Bijuli - travelled nearly 3,000 kilometres from Assam to Tamil Nadu in September 2026. Their transfers were facilitated through Sev...