TN: Rs 2 lakh fine on Medical students for threw dog off the roof

Chennai: The two Medical students of the Dr MGR University , Gautam Sudarshan and Ashish Pal, who faced criticism across the country for throwing a dog from the rooftop of a building, have now been fined a penalty of Rs 2 lakh each on account of cruelty to animals. The said quantum has been decided by the Dr MGR University disciplinary board, which had been directed by the high court to do so.

The accused will have to pay the penalty amount to the Animal Welfare Board of India, as directed by the disciplinary board of the university. The fine has imposed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The said incident took place of July 6th, where Sudarshan was recorded by his friend Pal flinging the dog from the terrace of a building here, caught attention of all, after the shocking video went viral. The act drew outrage on social media, animal welfare activists lodged a complaint with the police, which booked them for cruel treatment meted out to an animal under Indian Penal Code’s (IPC) sections 428 and 429 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (Sec 11 (1-a).

Read also: Medical Students who threw dog off the roof suspended

The fine is indeed an unprecedented one, as under the ambit of the act, maximum fine is only upto Rs 50. Criticising the cruelty of the act done Medical students, Bhuvaneshwari Gupta, Associate Manager of Campaigns, PETA, said, "Acts of cruelty to animals like this one are indicative of a deep mental disturbance. Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals often don't just stop there, many of them move on to hurting other animals, children, women or other people."