Three-year-old Rottweiler, Henry, has emerged as a central character in the public spat between Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and TMC MP Mahua Moitra with the former partners having a bitter battle over who gets the custody of the dog. Henry is with Moitra at present.
In his latest claim on Friday, Dehadrai has now said that Moitra has offered to return Henry to him if he withdraws the complaint he has made to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding her alleged association with the Hiranandani group in the purported ‘cash for query’ matter. Both Dehadrai and Moitra accuse each other of “stealing” Henry from their possession and have gone to Delhi Police against each other. Moitra has also described Dehadrai as a “jilted ex” who just wants to get back at her.
Henry’s Life Story
Dehadrai claims he purchased Henry from one AB Bahuguna in Janakpuri in January 2021 for Rs 75,000, which he paid in two instalments of Rs 10,000 and Rs 65,000. He also has cited proof of such payments. He even cites a Kennel Club of India’s ‘Litter Registration’ certificate dated August 24, 2021, which cites Henry’s registration number containing a bar code and microchip details. “My bond with my dog Henry is that of a parent and child. I have looked after him since he was 40 days old, and I understand his every need and concern,” Dehadrai said in his police complaint on October 19.
But Moitra claims that Henry belongs to her. She accuses Dehadrai of trespassing into her official residence in Delhi and stealing Henry, which she says he “later returned”. Moitra says she did not take any immediate action on this issue but impressed upon Dehadrai to let better sense prevail. However, upon another such incident, Moitra says she filed two complaints with the Barakhamba police station on March 25 and September 23, 2023. Moitra withdrew these complaints on account of the “erstwhile friendship” they had shared.
However, Dehadrai has a different claim. He says Moitra has “deliberately kidnapped and hidden” Henry away from him since October 10 with the intent to harass and blackmail him. “I would request you with folded hands and all humility that Henry belongs with his rightful owner-parent. Time is of the essence and I would beseech you to please reunite me with Henry at the earliest…and help me get my dog back,” Dehadrai wrote in a plea to the police on Thursday.
What Next?
Henry, who is black in colour and has tan as a marking, is hence at the centre of a bitter custody battle between Dehadrai and Moitra. Moitra’s timeline on social media is full of her pictures with Henry, showing her deep bond with the dog as well. Will his probable return to Dehadrai by Moitra end this bitter chapter between them? The legal questions raised by Dehadrai’s ‘expose’ and the ongoing proceedings before the Lok Sabha ethics committee now have taken the matter too far for it to be settled over who gets to keep Henry.
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