PUNE: Earlier last week, DCN had reported that the driver of a Lamborghini had run over a dog at Fergusson College Road in Pune. It has come to the fore that the driver was arrested on Saturday on the charge of running over a dog with his Lamborghini in the heart of the city, at Goodluck Chowk on FC Road, on August 5, and was later released on bail. Neena Rai, a social worker, had filed a police complaint in this regard. Based on her complaint, an FIR for offences punishable under sections 279 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. 

The arrested accused has been identified as Prasad Nagarkar, a city-based jeweller and social media influencer. 

Senior Police Inspector Vipin Hasabnis of the Deccan Gymkhana police, reported that they had "arrested him based on the CCTV footage, eyewitnesses' accounts, as well as the vehicle number mentioned in the FIR on Saturday. We have also seized his car. He was later released on bail as all charges invoked in the case were bailable. All collected evidence would be now presented before a local court. It would subsequently take decisions concerning the case, including the fate of the seized vehicle  — whether it would be returned to the suspect or not."

Earlier,  the police had registered an FIR for offences punishable under sections 279 (negligent driving) and 429 (committing mischief by killing/maiming animal) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 11 (treating animal cruelly) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Neena Rai, a social worker, had filed a police complaint in this regard.

For the unversed, the maximum punishment is three years' imprisonment in the event of a conviction under IPC sections 279 and 429. Given that the offences fall within the purview of sections for which the prescribed punishment is less than seven years, in accordance with the Supreme Court's interpretation, the police are authorised to grant bail. Animal lovers had protested near Goodluck Chowk at 6pm on Sunday.