Mahua Moitra Moves Delhi HC Against Ex-Boyfriend Jai Anant Dehadrai Over Pet Dog's Custody

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has moved the Delhi High Court against her former boyfriend Jai Anant Dehadrai over the custody of her pet dog, named Henry. She has challenged a Saket court order that denied her interim custody of the Rottweiler. Moitra had pleaded for Henry's interim custody for 10 days every month.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri on Thursday issued notice to Dehadrai and sought his response to Moitra’s plea. Challenging the Saket court's decision, Moitra argued that the trial court failed to correctly assess the facts and evidence placed on record.

The High Court has listed the matter for further hearing on April 29. Meanwhile, Dehadrai appeared before the court in person and urged that the appeal be dismissed.

In her appeal, Moitra maintained that Henry was given to her as a pet meant to be loved and cared for, and that the dog primarily lived at her residence. She stated that Henry stayed with Dehadrai only when she was travelling outside Delhi for parliamentary or constituency-related duties.

Moitra further contended that the trial court erred in treating payment alone as proof of ownership. According to her plea, although the dog was paid for by Dehadrai, the payment was made on her behalf, and this did not confer exclusive ownership on him. She argued that there was no specific finding in the impugned order declaring Dehadrai as Henry’s owner.

She said, “The impugned order does not record any finding that the Defendant/Respondent [Dehadrai] is the owner of the dog, and wrongly considers that payment is sufficient to show ownership, when there is specific evidence filed with the plaint, and not contradicted, that the pet was paid for by the Respondent on behalf of the Appellant.”

Earlier, Dehadrai had accused Moitra of accepting bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for asking questions in the Parliament. Following these allegations, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommended Moitra’s removal, leading to her expulsion from Parliament in 2023.

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