Controversy Erupts in South Mumbai as Woman Accused of Feeding Meat to Stray Animals Near Mahalaxmi Temple

Mumbai, 26th March 2024: A 40-year-old woman residing in south Mumbai finds herself embroiled in controversy after allegedly feeding meat to stray animals in the vicinity of the Mahalaxmi temple, prompting the Gamdevi police to take action against her for purportedly “desecrating the place of worship” and “hurting the religious sentiments” of residents.

Amid mounting complaints from concerned locals, a committee comprised of two BMC veterinary officers and two police personnel was convened to address the issue. Despite directives instructing the woman to cease feeding meat to stray animals, she allegedly persisted in her actions, leading to the lodging of a formal police complaint against her. Consequently, she has been charged under stringent sections of the law, including those related to damaging and defiling a place of worship, breach of peace, and criminal intimidation.

While the woman remains at large, a senior police official has confirmed ongoing investigations into the matter, emphasizing the complainant’s allegations that the woman intentionally chose locations frequented by devotees, including areas near the Mahalaxmi and Dhakleshwar temples, to feed stray animals with meat.

According to police reports, the case was filed based on a complaint by social worker Sheela Shah against two women, Nandini Belekar and Pallavi Patil. They have been accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code about insulting religious beliefs, provoking breach of peace, and criminal intimidation.

Belekar stands accused of allegedly scattering meat on the roads near the Mahalaxmi temple with the purported aim of offending religious sensibilities, while Patil is alleged to have verbally abused and threatened the complainant and other residents.

The complainant, aged 62, alleges that since the beginning of 2022, Belekar, a self-proclaimed animal lover, has been feeding mutton, chicken, and fish to stray cats and dogs in the vicinity, causing distress to devotees and contaminating the temple premises. Despite repeated appeals to confine her feeding activities to a designated area and to use appropriate food, Belekar purportedly persisted in her actions, leading to the formation of the committee.

In response to persistent grievances, the committee imposed restrictions on Belekar, mandating her to feed stray animals at a specified location after 10 pm and to refrain from using meat as feed. However, Belekar allegedly flouted these directives, prompting further confrontations with residents, culminating in verbal abuse and threats allegedly orchestrated by Patil.

Having exhausted other avenues, Shah resorted to lodging a formal complaint against Belekar, accusing her of deliberately desecrating the place of worship and causing offence to religious sentiments. She has supplemented her complaint with photographic evidence captured on a pen drive, underscoring the gravity of the alleged transgressions.