FIR filed against Telangana lab after PETA exposes animal cruelty in experimentation facility

PETA India’s whistleblower investigation has led to a historic FIR against Palamur Biosciences in Telangana for alleged cruelty towards lab animals. The case marks the first criminal action against an Indian animal testing lab under IPC and Wildlife laws.

Hyderabad: Following recent revelations made by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India over laboratory animal abuse, a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Telangana-based Palamur Biosciences Pvt Ltd, Mahabubnagar.

Following the whistleblower report, the central government body Committee for Control and Supervision and Experiments on Animals (CCSEA) also initiated an inspection. The noted animal welfare organization maintained that this was for the first time that an animal experimentation laboratory in the country has faced such legal action.

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The FIR against the laboratory has been registered by Boothpur Police Station in Mahabubnagar after a report about laboratory animal abuse was released by PETA with the help of a whistleblower.

The whistleblower disclosure about the laboratory alleged dogs being subjected to extreme overcrowding, leading to frequent fights and injuries from rough handling. The PETA report indicated laboratory animals suffering from severe infections from test compounds, often found in pools of blood. The company also allegedly obtained wild rhesus macaques, some testing positive for zoonotic diseases, posing public health risks.

According to PETA, the case invokes sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to killing, maiming, and negligent conduct towards animals, alongside sections of the Wild Life Protection Act (WPA) concerning the illegal capture of protected macaques.

Dr. Anjana Aggarwal of PETA India in a press release said that this historic step tears open the veil of secrecy surrounding animal experimentation.

PETA India in the statement said that with the support of Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) it is pushing for Palamur Biosciences’ permanent closure, termination of its licenses, prosecution, and rehabilitation of the surviving animals.