Dog owner sentenced to four months in jail after his pet bites neighbour in lift

A magistrate`s court in Mumbai has sentenced to four months` imprisonment a man whose pet dog had bitten a neighbour inside a lift of his residential building in Worli area of central Mumbai, reported the PTI.

The decision came seven years after the incident.

Accused Rishabh Patel (40) did not show much compassion to his pet Husky dog too, the court said in its ruling on May 21, as per the PTI.

The detailed order became available on Wednesday.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Suhas Bhosale found the accused guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animal). The court also imposed a fine of Rs 4,000 on Patel, saying the victim`s sufferings “cannot be compensated in terms of money” but it would give him some relief, according to the PTI.

The incident had taken place on February 1, 2018.

As per the prosecution, complainant Ramik Shah was going down in a lift with his one-and-a-half-year-old son and servant when Patel sought to enter with his dog.

Shah requested Patel to wait as his son was afraid of dogs, but Patel did not pay heed, and the dog bit Shah`s left forearm once inside the lift, it said, the news agency reported on Wednesday.

Multiple attacks by pet dogs reported in Mumbai`s housing society; owner booked

Meanwhile, in a troubling series of incidents, residents of the upscale Hiranandani Gardens Society in Powai area of Mumbai, have reported multiple attacks by pet dogs belonging to a resident, prompting police action into the case.

Despite at least three people being bitten, the dog owner allegedly failed to take any corrective measures. As a result, the Powai Police have registered a case under Section 291 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the pet owner, identified as Ganesh Chukkal.

According to the police, a first information report (FIR) was filed based on a complaint by society resident Musil Jacob (39) on Monday. According to the FIR, Jacob claimed that Chukkal takes his three German Shepherds and a Cane Corso routinely for walks without muzzles or any form of safety restraints.

(with PTI inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day