'Cat named Daisy has driven everyone crazy': Karnataka HC judge after quashing a pet case

The defendant's counsel had argued that cats frequently enter and leave properties through windows, and allowing such a "frivolous complaint" to proceed would 'clog the criminal justice system'. (Representational image: Unsplash)

The Karnataka High Court today quashed criminal proceedings against a man accused of wrongfully keeping a cat named Daisy, Live Law reported.

A single-judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna allowed the petition filed by Taha Husain, who faced charges under Sections 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, following a complaint from Nikitha Anjana Iyer.

While announcing the order, the high court judge said, "Cat named Daisy has driven everyone crazy," before stating, "Petition is allowed and the proceedings stand quashed." A detailed copy of the order is currently awaited.

The proceedings against Husain had been stayed by the High Court in July 2024. The original complaint alleged that Daisy, owned by Iyer, went missing after jumping between neighbouring walls and was subsequently seen in Husain's house via CCTV footage.

Husain's counsel had argued that cats frequently enter and leave properties through windows, and allowing such a "frivolous complaint" to proceed would "clog the criminal justice system." During an earlier hearing, the bench had also orally criticised the police for investigating such offences, especially after it was revealed that a chargesheet had been filed in the case. The court suggested that the police should instead focus on more "serious/real crimes."

Woman loses job, bonus after pet cat clicked 'send' on her resignation email to boss

In another incident of a cat causing nuisance, a woman in China revealed that she lost her job and a year-end bonus after her pet cat clicked on the “send” button of a resignation email she had written to her boss but was hesitating to send. The 25-year-old said she wanted to quit but needed money to support her nine cats that's why she had drafted a resignation email but had not sent it.

On January 5, however, while the draft was open on her laptop, the woman left her desk for a bit and the cat jumped onto the table and pressed "enter" dispatching the email. The incident was caught on CCTV cameras, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

Although she immediately reached out to her boss when she realised what had happened, it was of little help as she ended up losing both her job and a year-end bonus