'Why don't you sit together and sort it out?' Delhi HC tells Mahua Moitra, advocate Jai Dehadrai over dog custody

"Why don't you sit together and sort it out? What relief is she seeking in the suit?" Justice Jain asked, referring to Moitra's petition seeking shared custody of the dog, a Rottweiler named Henry.

The Trinamool MP and Dehadrai, a Supreme Court lawyer, were reportedly in a relationship and have not been on good terms ever since they parted ways.

The two have now accused each other of "stealing" Henry and have been engaged in a legal battle since 2023.

Moitra said Henry belongs to her and has sought joint custody of the dog.

Meanwhile, Dehadrai has challenged a trial court order that restrains him from publicising the custody battle with Moitra.

Appearing on behalf of Dehadrai, advocate Sanjay Ghose said he was upset with the trial court's order restricting both from publicly speaking about the case. He said the order, which was passed on a suit by Moitra, violated his freedom of speech.

He also said he had earlier made a post on X without mentioning the details of the case, but it was later termed a violation of the court order.

"A frivolous case is filed against me, and I can't talk about it, I can't discuss it, I can't write about it? Where is it necessary for the fairness of the trial? She is an MP. Can an MP claim a higher right over a normal plaintiff?" Ghose said.

The High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Trinamool MP on the matter and posted the same for hearing in December.

Dehadrai has repeatedly claimed that Henry was with him ever since he was 40 days old. He also said he brought the dog, making him his real guardian.

A complaint by Dehadrai in 2023, whom Moitra had referred to as a "jilted ex", led the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee to recommend the latter's expulsion from Parliament for allegedly accepting "illegal gratifications" from a businessman to raise questions in Parliament at his behest.

Moitra had denied the charge of receiving any pecuniary benefit. She termed the Lok Sabha panel recommendation a "pre-fixed match by a kangaroo court".

In September 2023, Moitra reportedly filed a police case against Dehadrai and sent senior officers to his house to get him to sign a custody agreement for Henry, which he refused.

In a complaint with Delhi Police in November that year, Dehadrai alleged that the Trinamool MP was using his pet as an "excuse to come personally" to his residence in an attempt to intimidate him.

He also accused her of "trespassing", "criminal intimidation" and "breach of peace" at his residence.