From letters to the Supreme Court to a year-round resource for animals. Read the story

How to report animal cruelty in Maharashtra

How to report animal cruelty in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra every district has a District SPCA, chaired by the District Collector, and the State Animal Welfare Board works from the Animal Husbandry Commissionerate in Pune (Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department, updated ). You can also complain to the police online through the state’s citizen portal.

Report it to the police in Maharashtra

  • The Maharashtra Police citizen portal has a “Register e-Complaint” service. You need to sign up on the portal first (Maharashtra Police citizen portal, checked ).
  • For emergencies, call 112.
  • For the laws (PCA Act s.11, BNS s.325), what to write, Zero FIR and what to do if the police refuse, see our national guide, How to report animal cruelty and file an FIR.

Maharashtra Animal Welfare Board

  • Maharashtra Animal Welfare Board, Commissionerate of Animal Husbandry, Aundh Road, Opposite Spicer College, Aundh, Pune 411067. Phone: 020-25690248. Email: mahaanimalwelfareboard@gmail.com (Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department, updated ).
  • The same page says the Board members’ three-year terms have expired and new appointments are proposed (Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department, updated ).
  • AWBI lists the Board’s order as No. PVA-1014/PK563/PDM-3, dated (AWBI list of State Animal Welfare Boards, ).

District SPCAs in Maharashtra

  • A Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is registered in every district. The District Collector is its ex-officio chairman and the district’s Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry is member secretary. The District Superintendent of Police, the Zilla Parishad CEO and the RTO are members (Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department, updated ).

Maharashtra laws on animals

  • Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976 (Act 9 of 1977), in force from (India Code, checked ).

1962 and mobile veterinary units in Maharashtra

  • A central call centre at the Animal Husbandry Commissionerate, Pune runs the toll-free number 1962. Mobile veterinary teams cover 73 talukas in 32 districts (Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Department, Chief Minister Animal Health Scheme, updated ).
  • 1962 is the toll-free number for doorstep veterinary service from MVUs (PIB, ).

Other help in Maharashtra

  • Find animal welfare organisations, District SPCAs and vets in Maharashtra in our Directory.

Related on Animal Writes

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Questions and answers

You can report animal cruelty in Maharashtra through “Register e-Complaint” on the Maharashtra Police citizen portal, after signing up. In an emergency, call 112. The District SPCA, chaired by the Collector, is another place to report it.

The Maharashtra Animal Welfare Board is at the Commissionerate of Animal Husbandry, Aundh, Pune 411067. Phone 020-25690248, email mahaanimalwelfareboard@gmail.com.

Yes. Maharashtra has a registered SPCA in every district, with the District Collector as ex-officio chairman and the district’s Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry as member secretary.

Sources

By Animal Writes

Checked .

More guides

  • How to report animal cruelty in Goa

    Guide

    How to report animal cruelty in Goa

    Report animal cruelty in Goa: the police Register Complaint service, the State Animal Welfare Board in Panaji and the Goa Animal Preservation Act.

From the Library

  • CBI DRI Joint Action Busts Wildlife Trafficking Racket 53 Protected Animals/ Birds Rescued, 06 Accused Arrested

    Official Release

    CBI DRI Joint Action Busts Wildlife Trafficking Racket 53 Protected Animals/ Birds Rescued, 06 Accused Arrested

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and DRI, Mumbai, conducted a joint operation that disrupted a wildlife trafficking network, resulting in the rescue of 53 protected animals and birds. The operation, supported by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, involved multiple locations in Maharashtra and West Bengal. Rescued species included 15 Slow Loris, 2 Binturong, 28 Star Tortoises, 6 Egyptian Vultures, and 2 Shikra birds. Six suspects were arrested, three in Mumbai and three in Kolkata, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Criminal Conspiracy under Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The investigation is ongoing.

  • DRI Nagpur Foils Illegal Wildlife Trade: Seizes Leopard Skin with Head Trophy in Bhopal; Three Persons Apprehended

    Official Release

    DRI Nagpur Foils Illegal Wildlife Trade: Seizes Leopard Skin with Head Trophy in Bhopal; Three Persons Apprehended

    The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a leopard skin along with its head trophy in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Three individuals were arrested in connection with this illegal wildlife trade incident after officers intercepted them at a hotel. Leopards are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which strictly prohibits the trade, sale, purchase, or possession of their skins or body parts. The seized items and the three apprehended individuals were handed over to the Forest Division, Bhopal, for further necessary action.

  • DRI seizes 86 live Tokay Geckos in Assam in a crackdown on wildlife trafficking; two arrested

    Official Release

    DRI seizes 86 live Tokay Geckos in Assam in a crackdown on wildlife trafficking; two arrested

    The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence confiscated 86 live Tokay geckos in Assam during a wildlife trafficking crackdown. Acting on specific intelligence regarding an illegal trade deal, officers intercepted two individuals at Bandar Chalia Gaon Ground in Mariani. The endangered animals were seized under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the two apprehended persons were subsequently handed over to the Mariani Range Forest office for further action.