Madras High Court approached for return of seized pony

Chennai: A petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the authorities to return a horse seized by them.

The petitioner, M Arumugam of Pushpa Nagar, Numgambakkam submitted, "I am engaged in the profession of performing last rituals and funerals". Three of his relatives died between 2012 and 2013 and as the family faced irreparable loss, he consulted astrologers and elders, who informed him that his family members had neglected his family deity Sri Karuppasamy. They also advised him to rear a pony as the deity was known for having a horse. He purchased a black pony for Rs 5,500 from M Pathipan in Mugalivakkam.

On returning from the burial ground, he found the pony missing and he rushed to the police station. The police informed him that the pony was impounded following a complaint from Mahendra Kumar of People for Cattle of India, an NGO, and a case was registered on March 4, 2014. He was treating the pony which may have been mistaken for torture, he said. Arumugam admitted his guilt before the Magistrate in Egmore and paid a fine of Rs. 50 on March 14. He hoped the animal would be returned to him. However, it was handed over to the Blue Cross India.