New Delhi [India], May 4 (HBTV): A Delhi court has observed that no serious effort was made by the police to trace two stray dogs that went missing from IGI Airport, criticising the manner in which the investigation was conducted.
The case relates to the alleged removal of dogs from Terminal-3 of the airport. According to the police status report, CCTV footage showed that at around 7:38 pm, a person in an estate services uniform lured a dog into a vehicle and took it out of the airport premises. The individuals involved were linked to a private contractor. However, the police stated that the exact location where the dogs were taken remains unknown.
The court noted that despite more than one and a half months having passed, the police had not been able to determine whether the dogs were alive or where they had been relocated. It remarked that the investigation reflected a lack of seriousness, particularly as the complainants had approached the authorities multiple times.
The judge also found fault with the approach of the inquiry officer, stating that instead of questioning the airport authorities and contractors involved, the police focused on the complainants. They were asked to prove whether they were regular feeders and were also asked to provide contact details of the respondents.
Further, the court pointed out that earlier directives to examine incidents at both Terminal-3 and Terminal-1 together were not followed. The police treated the incidents separately, despite indications that both could be connected and involved the same contractor.
The court observed that such incidents could not have occurred without directives from authorities managing the airport and emphasised the need for a thorough and coordinated inquiry.
Taking note of these lapses, the court has directed the Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport Range) to conduct a fresh and comprehensive investigation into both incidents and submit a report.
The matter is scheduled to be heard next on May 11, 2026. (ANI)