NEW DELHI: TMC MP Mahua Moitra moved the Delhi High Court on Thursday, challenging a district court order refusing to give her joint custody of a pet Rottweiler named Henry. The legislator had requested temporary custody of Henry for 10 days every month. The HC sought the stand of Moitra’s former partner and her advocate, Jai Anant Dehadray, on her appeal and asked him to file his response. Dehadray appeared in person and contended that the petition should be dismissed at this stage itself, arguing that it had no merits. The HC listed the case for hearing on April 29. In her appeal, Moitra said the district court’s decision was “bad in law and fact” because it failed to consider that Henry had been given to her as her pet “to love and care for” and resided primarily at her residence, except when away from her election duties, during which time the dog remained with Dehadray. Dehadray argued that he bought the dog in 2021. Moitra claimed that because of her friendship at the time with Dehadray, she was entitled to joint custody of the pet. Last year, HC advised both parties to “sit together” and resolve the dispute. They both claimed that Henry belonged to them and accused each other of “kidnapping.”
