Ever since an application was filed by Chintan Upadhyay on January 25, to seal the Juhu apartment that he used to live in with Hema, the future of the two dogs that Hema had adopted looks uncertain.
After the plea was filed, an NGO, Save Our Strays, has uploaded photos of the dogs, Lucky and Kismet, announcing that they are available for adoption. “Hema’s family informed the NGOs about the dogs as they are worried about them.
After Hema’s death, there is no one to look after the dogs,” said Sanchu Menon, a family friend of Hema.
The late artist had adopted the dogs five years ago but her husband Chintan was not happy with their presence. He would often complain of the dogs being untrained as they would sometimes defecate in the house. Also, sources said that Chintan was allergic to dogs and it was another reason for him to not want the dogs in the house. Due to this, Hema was asked to keep the dogs within a barricade.
A friend of Chintan, artist Amir Rizvi said, “Earlier, Chintan too owned a dog that he had named ‘Tapori’ but soon after he became allergic to dogs and developed rashes after touching objects that were touched by the dog too. So he sent Tapori to his father’s place. Lucky and Kismet were brought in after Tapori was sent off.”
After Hema’s murder, Chintan had asked their domestic help Lalit Mandal to take care of the dogs. The prosecution has been ordered to file its reply on the plea requesting the flat being sealed by January 30.
Police officials are planning to file the charge sheet in the double murder case of Kandivali soon. Commenting on the absconding accused Vidhyadhar Rajbhar, a police official said, “He is in the country and we will nab him soon enough.” Earlier, officials were suspecting that chances are he might have left the country from the Nepal border area.
Other accused Pradip Rajbhar, Vijay Rajbhar, Shivprakash Rajbhar, a minor accused along with the deceased Hema’s estranged husband Chintan are in judicial custody.
