Andheri Dog Owner Booked After Pet Bites 11-Year-Old Boy

The Andheri police have booked a 31-year-old dog owner, Raganathan Rajgopalan, after his pet dog allegedly chased and bit an 11-year-old boy at a residential complex in Andheri (East) on August 29.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 3:25 pm when the victim, identified as Jash, was returning home. The child sustained injuries to his right thigh and was immediately taken to Nanavati Hospital for medical treatment and vaccination.

The boy's father, 43-year-old Devang Dilip Shah, lodged a complaint alleging that Rajgopalan had negligently failed to control the animal despite earlier warnings. Shah stated that residents in the complex had previously complained about the pet running towards people and small children.

In the First Information Report (FIR), Shah detailed the sequence of events leading up to the incident. He stated that he, along with his father and his son Jash, had come downstairs after lunch at around 3 pm. After handing stationery to Jash and asking him to head back home, Shah and his father departed for their shop.

Shortly after, at 3:25 pm, Shah received a phone call from his wife informing him that their son had been bitten. Shah rushed back to the residential premises and found the boy bleeding from his right thigh, after which they transported him to Nanavati Hospital.

Police said the boy told his father that the dog was with Sumit Solanki, a housekeeping worker at the residential complex, when the incident occurred. The dog escaped from Solanki's control, chased Jash, and bit him.

An officer from the Andheri police station stated that Rajgopalan was booked for negligence and negligent conduct, noting that the owner did not use a muzzle while the pet was taken out for a walk.