AMC officials asked me to take away the tongs: Lisa

A fresh round of allegations and counter-allegations has begun between animal activist Lisa Warden and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), after Warden confiscated iron tongs from the Cattle Nuisance Control Department (CNCD) on Monday.

While the AMC, in their police complaint, say that Warden stormed into the Danilimda office, Warden refutes the allegation. 

In an email to media houses, she says that on Sunday, June 13, she was contacted by Ganji Chaudhary, supervisor of the CNCD, who asked her to come to the office in Danilimda on Monday morning, and collect the iron tongs the AMC has been using illegally for catching dogs.

"The previous week, I contacted commissioner IP Gautam and deputy commissioner Capt Mahajan by email, and asked them to relinquish the tongs. (It appears that a partial copy of that email has been released to the media by the recipients themselves who, in a nonsensical twist, are now alleging defamation)", she has written.

She further states in her mail that it was at the request of the deputy municipal commissioner that Chaudhary contacted her, and asked her to come and get the tongs. "I wanted to go on Sunday, 13 June, itself, but both Capt Mahajan and Mr. Chaudhary asked if I would please come the following morning, 14 June. I agreed," she says, adding that it was not a break-in. "I was welcomed into the office by the staff, and given free access to see the tongs and put them in my vehicle, as per the AMC's request. I would never obstruct or interfere with any public official engaged in the lawful pursuit of his or her duty," she adds. 

Mahajan, while speaking to DNA, said that Warden is telling white lies, and that they never had any talks with her. "I haven't spoken to her since long. It is a lie if she says we had asked her to come to CNCD and get the tongs," he said.

It is also learnt that the AMC chief has asked officials to check Warden's involvement with the NGO Animal Help Foundation.

"During the period of two months when we were yet to give away the tender for the sterilisation program, Warden would often call Ganji Chaudhary to the Animal Help Foundation's office. We believe she was trying to influence AMC's decision to give a tender to the AHF", said a senior AMC official. "Due to this doubt, we have cancelled the contract with the AHF and we will re-tender soon," the source said.