Mumbai Man Sentenced to 4 Months in Jail Over 2018 Dog Bite Incident in Lift
Mumbai Man Sentenced to 4 Months in Jail Over 2018 Dog Bite Incident in Lift
More than seven years after a dog attack inside a residential building’s elevator, a 40-year-old Mumbai man has been sentenced to four months of rigorous imprisonment, highlighting the legal consequences of irresponsible pet ownership in crowded urban spaces.
The case dates back to February 1, 2018, when Rishab Patel, a resident of a Worli housing society, entered a lift with his pet husky despite objections from his neighbour, Ramik Shah. Shah, accompanied by his young son and domestic help, had requested Patel to wait, explaining his child’s fear of dogs. Ignoring the request, Patel proceeded to bring the dog into the confined space — a decision that led to the husky biting Shah on the left forearm.
Following the incident, Shah filed a police complaint at Worli Police Station and sought medical treatment. The matter went to court, culminating in a verdict on May 21 this year.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Suhas Bhosale found Patel guilty under Sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animals) of the Indian Penal Code. The court, while pronouncing the judgment, criticised Patel’s apparent indifference to both his neighbours’ concerns and the wellbeing of his own pet.
“The accused forced the animal into a confined lift space against the protest of the complainant. This clearly shows a lack of empathy and responsibility,” the court stated, referencing CCTV footage of the incident.
Further aggravating the situation, Patel reportedly showed no remorse following the bite and even told Shah, “Do whatever you want,” according to the complainant’s testimony. Shah’s domestic help, Anuj Singh, supported this account in court.
Despite the defence raising questions about the timeline of Shah’s medical treatment and vaccination, the court deemed the witness testimonies consistent and credible.
Alongside the prison sentence, Patel was fined Rs 4,000. The court acknowledged that no penalty could fully make up for the distress caused, especially in front of a child, but considered the fine a symbolic recognition of the harm suffered.
This long-delayed judgment reinforces the principle that urban living requires not just coexistence, but accountability and sensitivity toward others.
