A 35-year-old digital content creator from JP Nagar, Bengaluru, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly running over a street dog with his SUV, discarding its body in a gunny bag, and disposing of it. The accused, identified as Manjunath Venkatesh, a resident of Shekhar Layout in JP Nagar VIIIth phase, was detained following a complaint filed by an animal rights activist. A CCTV video showing Manjunath’s Mahindra Thar running over the dog went viral, leading to public outrage and calls for stringent legal action.
According to reports, the incident occurred on December 31 around 5:30 p.m. in Shekhar Layout. The video shows the SUV’s front-left tire crushing the dog, which was lying on the road. The complainant accused Manjunath of deliberately driving over the animal, which appeared to be visible in his path. After hitting the dog, the accused allegedly placed its body in a bag and disposed of it.
Manjunath, who works in JP Nagar, told police that he was rushing to his office and did not notice the dog. However, given the circumstances shown in the video, the police have charged him under sections of the Cruelty to Animals Act-1960 and Section 325 (Mischief by killing or maiming an animal) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). His vehicle has also been seized.
This incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with social media users demanding justice for the dog and stronger penalties for animal cruelty.
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