Malad police identify four suspects in killing of community dog Mikey
Nearly a month after a community dog named Mikey was allegedly killed, the Malwani police have identified a housekeeping staff member and three housing society members as suspects at the Raheja Exotica residential complex in Malad, Mumbai. The breakthrough came after a forensic science laboratory recovered deleted CCTV footage showing the suspects beating the dog with an iron rod and disposing of its carcass.
The suspects were identified as housekeeping staffer Vaibhav Koli and three unnamed housing society members. According to Senior Inspector Shailendra Nagarkar of the Malwani police station, the recovered footage showed the suspects attacking Mikey with an iron rod and subsequently disposing of the body to destroy evidence.
During interrogation, Koli reportedly told police that he was angry at the dog because it had bitten him a few days prior to the incident. The police have served notices to all four suspects, directing them to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. They have been warned of potential arrest if they fail to comply with the notices or violate the law.
The incident initially came to light after actor Sanket Kadam, a resident of Raheja Exotica, filed a police complaint. Kadam and fellow resident and actor Manjari Fadnis reported that Mikey, a community dog who had lived in the residential complex for nearly six years, had gone missing on May 29.
According to Kadam's complaint, several residents regularly fed and vaccinated Mikey. On the evening of May 29, Fadnis informed Kadam that the dog was missing. Despite searches and messages on the society's WhatsApp group, the dog could not be found. Kadam also alleged that some society members had previously objected to Mikey's presence and that the dog had been assaulted in the past.
On June 6, the Malwani police registered an FIR against unidentified persons under charges related to killing an animal, causing the disappearance of evidence, and provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
During the investigation, police discovered that portions of the CCTV footage had been deleted and cameras were turned off a day before the incident. The society's digital video recorder was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina, Santacruz East, which successfully recovered the deleted footage and helped investigators identify the suspects. Forensic experts also examined the scene, though a stain initially suspected to be blood was confirmed to be paan spit.
