The relationship with one's stepmother is always a fraught one, even for animals.

In the Indian town of Rajura in the state of Maharashtra, police summoned a parrot to the local station after an 85-year-old woman had accused the animal's owner - her stepson - of training the pet to "hurl obscenities" at her.

The woman, who complained, Janabai Sakharkar, obviously felt the parrot, Hariyal, had been trained to bad mouth her as it was owned by her stepson, Suresh.

Police decided to call in all three parties, including the parrot. However, reportedly remained silent while in police custody and did not swear at Janabai in front of the officers.

"There is a dispute over land and property between the woman and her stepson. We watched the parrot carefully but it did not utter a word at the police station after being confronted by the complainant," the local Police Inspector told reporters.

The matter has now been passed from police to forest department officials.