Mumbai: ‘Anupama’ Actor Sudhanshu Pandey Files Grievance Over Canine’s Fatal Injury

Mumbai, 19th March 2024: Television actor Sudhanshu Pandey, renowned for his portrayal of ‘Vanraj Shah’ in the popular series ‘Anupama’, has filed a grievance with the authorities against a suspected individual for fatally injuring a four-year-old canine named ‘Jay’ with a stick in the premises of their society late Saturday night.

An avid animal lover, Pandey has been nurturing two dogs, ‘Jay’ and ‘Veeru’, within the community for the past four years. The Amboli police have commenced an inquiry into the incident, utilizing CCTV footage to identify the culprit.

Pandey urged the dog’s caretaker, Shivani Sandeep Sharma, who discovered Jay’s lifeless body with several injuries outside the society gate the following morning, to report the matter to the police.

Expressing his anguish, Sudhanshu Pandey stated, “Four years ago, I welcomed ‘Jay’ and ‘Veeru’, two friendly and affectionate dogs, into our neighborhood. On Saturday night, CCTV footage captured a resident carrying a stick and actively searching for ‘Jay’. This individual had also threatened the dog’s caretaker earlier in the evening, displaying a clear intent to harm the dog.”

“Upon learning about Jay’s demise, my children are also deeply saddened. Both Jay and Veeru, our cherished pets named after characters from ‘Sholay’, were integral parts of our daily lives in the community. With Jay’s tragic demise, we seek justice from the authorities. I have instructed Sharma, the dog feeder, to file a First Information Report (FIR) against the individual identified in the CCTV footage,” Pandey added.

According to police sources, the suspected perpetrator resides in the Runwal Elegante building at Lokhandwala complex in Andheri West, where Sudhanshu Pandey also resides. The dogs, Jay and Veeru, also reside within this complex, and Pandey takes care of them with Sharma’s assistance.

Detailing the sequence of events, a police official stated, “Late on Saturday night, while the feeder Sharma was feeding the dogs, Jay chased after the suspect who was walking with his daughter. The suspect, in a state of panic, threw his slipper at Jay and threatened Sharma, expressing his intent to harm the dog.”

“At around 1:21 am, the suspect was observed exiting the society premises with a stick, ostensibly in search of ‘Jay’. Regrettably, the CCTV footage did not capture the fatal incident. ‘Jay’ was discovered lifeless outside the society gate at around 7:15 am by the residents,” the police official elaborated.

PSI Aakash Waghmare of Amboli police station affirmed, “We have lodged an FIR against the suspect seen leaving the society premises with a stick. Utilizing CCTV footage, we aim to identify the perpetrator and take appropriate action. The FIR has been filed against the suspect under IPC Section 429 of the Animal Cruelty Act.”

Expressing his demand for justice, Sudhanshu Pandey emphasized, “The individual responsible for ‘Jay’s’ demise must be apprehended. ‘Jay’ held a significant place in my life, and this individual robbed us of our joy by inflicting harm upon the dog. The perpetrator should face the most severe consequences.”