A body-hacking scientist has said he plans to launch legal action against the New South Wales government after it cancelled a travel card he had surgically implanted in his hand.

Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow – his legal name – cut out the chip of the card, had it encased in biocompatible plastic, then had a piercing expert implant it just under the skin on his left hand.

But Transport for NSW had cancelled the card this week, he said.

TfNSW, in a statement released after Meow-Meow implanted the chip in April last year, said they would cancel cards which had been tampered with.

Meow-Meow is expected to appear before a Sydney court on 16 March to contest a $200 fine he received last year for riding on the train without a valid ticket. He has entered a plea of not guilty.

He said he would launch legal action against TfNSW for breaching its contract and unlawfully cancelling his card.

Meow-Meow said he was willing to pay ongoing legal fees to help create laws around the emerging body-hacking technology – but is keen to hear from lawyers interested in taking on the Australia’s first “cyborg rights” case pro bono.