Monkey mayhem: lunchbox heist at Supreme Court in northern India

October 7, 2024

by Aditi Verma

In a surprising turn of events, a mischievous monkey made headlines by stealing a lunchbox at the Supreme Court in northern India’s Delhi, creating a buzz as lawyers and bystanders captured the antics on video.

The incident took place at the Supreme Court in Delhi and the video went viral on October 5. 

Visuals showed one of at least two monkeys rummaging through a tote bag in an attempt to access the tiffin inside. The curious creature snatched the bag from a shelf outside a courtroom, inspected its contents, and then scurried across an arched corridor to sit on a parapet.

As lawyers on the Tilak Marg premises recorded the monkey’s antics, it struggled to open the lunchbox, much to the amusement of the spectators. The monkey eventually dropped the box from the ledge, leaving many to wonder whether it managed to secure a meal or gave up in frustration. 

The incident sparked a wave of humorous reactions on social media, with users making light of the unusual visitor. One user quipped, “Was it carrying any brief? Because some lawyers never pass on. They just replace their outer rendering.” Another remarked, “Heartening to see the quality of visitors getting better for a change.” A third comment suggested caution in sharing the video, noting, “Be careful in disseminating this; one group shall come out saying Lord Ram sends his diplomat.”

This incident comes in the wake of a directive from the Delhi High Court addressing the ongoing “monkey menace” in the city. The court has called for civic agencies to launch a year-long public awareness campaign to educate the public about the implications of feeding monkeys, stating that it only increases their dependence on humans.

The Rhesus macaque, a common species in Delhi, was removed from Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 in 2022. This change means the species no longer receives the same level of protection as many endangered animals, allowing authorities to manage monkeys in a manner similar to stray cats and dogs.