Mumbai: A 31-year-old dog owner, Raganathan Rajgopalan, was booked after his pet allegedly chased and bit an 11-year-old boy at a residential complex in Andheri (East) on Aug 29.
The boy’s father, Devang Dilip Shah (43), alleged that Rajgopalan had negligently failed to control the dog despite residents previously complaining that it ran towards people and small children. “Rajgopalan did not use the muzzle while taking his pet out for a walk. He was booked for negligence and negligent conduct,” said a police officer of the Andheri police station
In the complaint, Shah said he, his father and his son Jash had come downstairs after lunch around 3 pm. After giving Jash stationery and asking him to return home, Shah and his father left for their shop. “At 3.25 pm, my wife called to say Jash had been bitten. I returned and found him bleeding from his right thigh. We took him to Nanavati Hospital where he received treatment and vaccination,” said Shah in the FIR.
Police said Jash told his father that the dog had been with Sumit Solanki, a housekeeping worker at the complex, when it escaped from his control, chased him and bit him.
Shah alleged that Rajgopalan and Solanki failed to take proper care of the dog, resulting in his son’s injuries. He filed a police complaint against both.
Police said Shah has complained that Rajgopalan, who resides in the building, has two pet dogs, one of which always runs at other people and small children in the vicinity. Therefore, many people in our area have informed Rajgopalan about this matter. However, he has not taken any care regarding the said dog.
