TMC MP Mahua Moitra moves Delhi HC in bitter custody battle over pet dog Henry

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has approached the Delhi High Court challenging a Saket Court order that denied her interim custody of her pet Rottweiler, Henry, in an ongoing dispute with former partner Jai Anant Dehadrai. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri on Thursday issued notice to Dehadrai and sought his response, listing the matter for hearing on April 29.

Moitra had sought interim custody of Henry for 10 days every month. However, the Saket Court rejected her plea on November 10, 2025. During the High Court proceedings, Dehadrai appeared in person and urged that Moitra’s appeal be dismissed in limine.

In her petition, Moitra contended that the trial court’s order was “bad in law and fact” and failed to consider that Henry was given to her “to be loved and cared for” and primarily resided at her home. She argued that the dog stayed with Dehadrai only when she was travelling for constituency work. She further stated that the order does not record any finding establishing Dehadrai as the owner and wrongly treats payment as sufficient proof of ownership.

According to her plea, documents placed on record, including certification from the kennel owner and kennel club, demonstrate that Henry was with her. She claimed that the payment for the dog was made by Dehadrai on her behalf, disputing the inference drawn by the trial court regarding ownership.

The custody dispute unfolds against the backdrop of a prolonged legal battle between the two. Dehadrai had earlier alleged that Moitra accepted bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for raising questions in Parliament, leading to her expulsion from the Lok Sabha in December 2023 following a recommendation by the Ethics Committee. Moitra has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated, and has filed defamation suits against Dehadrai and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. The matters remain pending before the courts.