India: Police detained a parrot in Maharashtra, India on Tuesday after an 85-year-old woman filed a complaint against it for making obscene remarks at her.
The parrot, named Hariyal, was reportedly trained for two years by its owner, Suresh Sakharkar, to abuse his stepmother, Janabai. Hariyal would allegedly hurl abuses at Janabai every time she walked past Sakharkar’s house.
“I am being harassed for the last two years,” Janabai told Zee News. “On seeing me, the parrot uses bad language and foul words.
“That is why I have complained thrice in the last two years. Police called me, Suresh and the parrot to the police station. Police should investigate and seize the parrot.”
Investigating the matter, police watched Hariyal carefully but didn’t “utter a word in front.” Police Inspector P S Dongre told reporters, “There is a dispute over land and property between the woman and her stepson. We watched the parrot carefully but it did not utter a word at the police station after being confronted by the complainant.”
No charges were pressed against Hariyal. However, he was handed over to the forestry department of the state.
This not the first time birds have been criminally investigated in India, earlier a pigeon was detained over suspicion of carrying out spy activities for Pakistan.