Ahmedabad: A sessions court on Friday upheld the order of a metropolitan court that convicted and sentenced a dog owner to one year in imprisonment after his dog attacked neighbors in 2014, injuring a man and three children. The court also directed the Legal Services Authority to provide compensation to the victims of the assault.

An unleashed Doberman named Shakti, belonging to Bhadresh Pandya, a resident of Ashapuri Society in Ghodasar, attacked Avinash Patel along with his son Jay, nephew Takshil, and another child named Vyom. Patel, whose hand was broken in the attack, filed an FIR against Pandya for not restraining his dog.

In January 2020, the metropolitan court found Pandya guilty and sentenced him to one year in jail under Section 338, along with three months’ imprisonment under IPC Sections 289 and Section 337. Pandya was also fined Rs 1,500. Later, Pandya appealed his conviction in the sessions court.

On Friday, Additional Sessions Judge A J Kanani upheld the conviction and sentencing. The judge further ruled that the trial court should have awarded compensation to the victims. Pandya has been instructed to surrender before the metropolitan court within 30 days. DeshGujarat