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In Badaun, a man named Manoj found himself in serious trouble after killing a rat, unaware that his actions could lead to legal consequences.

The incident occurred in the Sadar Kotwali area, where Manoj was charged for the act of killing a rat, which he did not realize could result in a lawsuit.

Following the incident, he became increasingly entangled in legal issues. While in police custody, he confessed that he was fed up with the rat, which had damaged many of his belongings. He explained that due to financial struggles, he was dealing with significant hardships, and the rat had even ruined his clothes. In a moment of frustration, he tied the rat with a stone and threw it into a drain.

After admitting his guilt, he expressed remorse and promised not to repeat such actions. However, the police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against him, leading to a charge sheet being submitted in court after four months of investigation. During this time, seven statements were recorded, culminating in a 30-page charge sheet.

On November 25 of the previous year, Manoj Kumar, a resident of Panbadiya, caught a rat from his home and submerged it in a drain outside, tying it with a stone. Witnessing this, Vikendra Sharma from the People for Animals (PFA) called the police, insisting on filing a complaint against Manoj. The police apprehended him and took him to the Kotwali.

Subsequently, the rat underwent a post-mortem examination at IVRI in Bareilly. Following the post-mortem report, a complaint was filed against Manoj under the Animal Cruelty Act based on Vikendra's statement. He was later released on provisional bail and appeared in court five days after the incident, where he was granted bail.

Manoj expressed his disbelief at becoming embroiled in such a complicated situation over the death of a rat. He noted that various rat poisons are available for people troubled by rodents, and he had been dealing with the rat for quite some time. The rat had chewed through many essential items in his home and had even bitten his daughter, leading to significant medical expenses.

According to Pawan Kumar Gupta, Secretary of the District Bar Association, the charges filed against Manoj are bailable offenses, with a potential punishment of up to six months.

The City CO, Alok Mishra, confirmed that action has been taken against Manoj under the Animal Cruelty Act, and the charge sheet has been filed.