FARIDABAD: A court here has convicted a man for animal cruelty after he tied his dog in a balcony under the scorching sun, imposing a total fine of Rs 1,050 following a 15-month trial, police said.The case dates back to June 20, 2024, when a complaint was filed by Vrinda Sharma of the People for Animals unit at BPTP police station. She alleged that the accused, Deepak Sharma, had left his dog tied in a small balcony exposed to extreme heat in a residential society in Sector 82.Acting on the complaint, a team rescued the dog with police assistance. Officials also alleged that the accused misbehaved with members of the rescue team during the operation.After investigation, police arrested Sharma and filed a chargesheet. The case was initially registered under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. During proceedings, the court also invoked Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with causing harm to animals.The matter was heard in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Jitendra Singh from January 2025, with the trial spanning six hearings over roughly 15 months. During the proceedings, the accused admitted guilt, leading to his conviction.On Thursday, the court imposed a fine of Rs 50 under the Cruelty to Animals Act and Rs 1,000 under IPC Section 429, bringing the total penalty to Rs 1,050.(With PTI inputs)
