Badaun, April 11: In a first, the police in Badaun have filed a chargesheet against a 30-year-old potter, accused of allegedly killing a rat by tying it to a brick and drowning it in a drain.

The accused, Manoj Kumar, a potter who lives in a small house with his three daughters, was booked in 2022 under IPC Section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle) along with Section 11 (1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Man Ties Rat to Brick, Drown It in Drain in Budaun; Booked After Video Goes Viral.

The police took action on a complaint lodged against him by Vikendra Sharma, an animal rights activist, in November 2022, following a viral video on social media purportedly showing a dead rat with its tail tied to a stone.

Kumar was later granted bail by a court. The autopsy of the rat had confirmed the cause of death as "dry drowning". Viral Video: Man Arrested For Drowning Rat in Drain in Budaun, Police to Conduct Post-Mortem of Rodent.

According to the police, on the basis of the autopsy report, video evidence and statement of locals, the investigating officer has filed a chargesheet against Kumar and it will be submitted before the court after the circle officer's verification.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 11, 2023 09:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).