'He was brutally murdered': Actor Manjari Fadnnis inconsolable after community dog's alleged killing
Actor Manjari Fadnnis has alleged that a community dog who had lived in her residential society for several years was brutally killed, prompting her to demand justice and stronger laws against animal cruelty.
The actor, known for her role in the 2008 film 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na', shared an emotional video on social media in which she broke down while recounting what she claimed happened to the dog, named Mikey. According to Fadnnis, the animal had been part of the housing society since being abandoned by its original owners and was cared for by residents.
Actor details alleged attack on dog
In the video, Fadnnis described Mikey as a gentle and friendly dog who had become a familiar presence in the society over the years.
“We had a dog called Mikey, who was abandoned by his family. And he has been a part of our society since 2019. He was a really sweet dog. He went missing. We were all worried and we all tried to find where he is. We made posters. We put them everywhere and tried to search him incessantly. And finally today, somebody from here confessed. Somebody who knows the people who have done it," she said.
The actor went on to share allegations relayed to her by a person who she said had knowledge of the incident.
“He confessed to us that Mikey was sleeping quietly in one of our building basement areas and he was hit on his head. He got very disoriented. They dragged him into the staircase area and they hit him more that he was bleeding from his mouth and he pooed and peed. In half death, they put him inside a goni (sack) and threw him off into this khadi (creek) area behind."
Fadnnis said efforts were underway to determine the dog's fate and locate him.
“We are trying to search for his body right now," she said.
Call for tougher animal cruelty laws
Alongside the video, Fadnnis used social media to call for stronger legal protections for animals and accountability for those responsible for acts of cruelty.
“Our Mikey was Brutally Murdered… & we are going to fight for him… This should never happen with ANY Dog Ever again in any Society anywhere! People should be SCARED to hurt an animal! We NEED Stronger laws against Animal Cruelty!" she wrote.
The actor became visibly emotional while speaking about the animal, recalling how Mikey had been looked after by residents and regularly groomed and bathed.
Remembering his playful nature, she said, "He was such a happy boy. He would come out from his bath and he would have zoomies around the house and run and run."
Support pours in from celebrities and activists
Fadnnis also thanked animal welfare activist Xavier Santiago for supporting her efforts to seek justice in the case. She expressed gratitude to members of her housing society who have stood by her following the incident.
Several members of the entertainment industry offered messages of support after the video was posted online.
Actor Ridhima Pandit wrote, “I am so so sorry my dear Manjari this is so so painful to hear and watching you like this is really making me feel so so helpless. I HATE INDIAN LAWS FOR DOGS… i so wish ki kuch badal paata. Thanks @xavierbernardsantiago for being there."
Actor Sana Saeed reacted with a heartbreak emoji, while filmmaker Ananth Mahadevan commented, “Oh god this is heartbreaking. Numbing. Which barbaric society does this?"
About Manjari Fadnnis
Fadnnis rose to prominence with her role as Meghna in 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na'. Over the years, she has worked across multiple film industries, including Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam cinema.
Her film credits include 'Faltu', 'Zokkomon', 'Warning', 'Grand Masti' and 'Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon', among others.
(Disclaimer: Animal cruelty is a punishable offence. If you witness abuse or neglect of an animal, report it to the police, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), or PETA India's emergency helpline at 9820122602.)