Nearly a decade after the Bombay High Court banned horse-drawn carriage joyrides — popularly known as Victorias — at least one such carriage continued to ferry tourists along Marine Drive and Churchgate. Animal rights activists had lodged complaints at the Marine Drive and Azad Maidan police stations, which have jurisdiction over the area. Police informed the activists that action could be taken only when the carriage was spotted on the road.

Caught by patrolling cop

On the day of the India-USA cricket match at Wankhede Stadium, a senior police officer on patrolling and inspection duty noticed a horse-drawn carriage ferrying tourists on Maharshi Karve Road in Churchgate. The sighting enabled the police to act on the month-old complaint. The Azad Maidan police stopped the carriage, confiscated the cart, and registered an FIR against the person operating it under Section 291 of the BNS for negligent conduct regarding animals.