New Delhi: In a bizarre turn of events, a social media post by a Bengaluru-based dog breeder about owning the “world’s most expensive dog” has been debunked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which raided the man’s residence on Thursday. The probe agency has said that the dog does not even appears to be foreign breed. The raid was carried out amid suspicion over violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The breeder S Satish claimed to have acquired a rare Cadabomb Okami — allegedly a unique hybrid between a wolf and a Caucasian Shepherd — from London for a staggering Rs 50 crore. According to his statements, the animal was eight months old, weighed 75 kg, and stood 30 inches tall. The extravagant claim gained traction and attention on social media.
No evidence to support claim
However, ED officials who conducted the search operation at Satish’s residence in JP Nagar III Phase found no evidence to support the claim. “No dog, no documentation, no foreign exchange transaction — nothing to validate the story,” a senior ED official was quoted as saying to media organisations. The ED further claimed that the entire narrative was fabricated for publicity.
Photographs of the so-called Okami had gone viral on social media platforms, lending temporary credibility to Satish’s claims. Yet, investigators discovered that the images were not of his own dog but were borrowed from another individual — reportedly a neighbour — and the animal in question was valued at less than Rs 1 lakh.
The federal investigating agency has now launched a deeper probe into Satish’s finances, including scrutiny of his income tax and GST records.
A known name in pet enthusiast circles
Satish, a known name in pet enthusiast circles, had stepped away from active dog breeding but remained visible at pet shows, often accompanied by rare or exotic breeds. He had also claimed to charge appearance fees for showcasing his animals — Rs 2.5 lakh for a 30-minute slot and up to Rs 10 lakh for longer events.
Despite these lofty claims, ED’s preliminary inquiry revealed that Satish did not possess the financial means to afford a Rs 50-crore animal. Authorities are now examining whether the claims were part of a larger ploy, potentially involving attempts at money laundering or the use of informal hawala networks.