Shiva was taken into custody by the RCF police on Friday night. The arrest followed the review of CCTV footage and testimonies from two eyewitnesses, which contributed to the police’s decision to act.
MUMBAI: Twenty-four hours after Chembur’s suspected serial cat killer, a 40-year-old homeless man identified as Shiva, was arrested, he was released on bail on Saturday, leaving animal lovers and activists alarmed. He was charged under section 325 of BNS and other sections of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Police suspect him of killing more than 20 cats and kittens found dead in Panjrapol and surrounding areas since August.
Because they disturbed him and had also shown police where he had buried the felines, pathan said Shiva had allegedly confessed to killing several cats.
“However, now that he has been released, we don’t know if he can be traced again,” she said. Animal rights group PETA India expressed disappointment over the release and said it would approach senior Mumbai police officers seeking his re-arrest. However, by Saturday afternoon, he was bailed out after being produced in court. This means that he is once again a free man and can harm more animals. PETA India has also urged DCP Sameer Shaikh to add relevant provisions of the NDPS Act for alleged possession of marijuana, reportedly recovered from Shiva when he was arrested.
Shiva was arrested by the RCF police on Friday night based on CCTV footage and accounts of two eyewitnesses. Local cat feeder Rubeena Pathan told TOI, “We were initially relieved when the accused cat killer was nabbed by the RCF police on Friday night.