Marriage hall owner booked for violating Covid norms

PUNE: Police are keeping a tight vigil and taking stringent actions against those violating Covid norms. They are even making raids at marriage halls, hotels, pubs which are flouting corona rules.

Continuing its crackdown on marriage halls violating Covid-19 norms and allowing crowds to gather at weddings, the Alephata police registered FIRs against Raj Darbar marriage hall and its owner in Belha village in Junnar Taluka on Saturday.

Police said that the marriage hall was hosting a wedding ceremony wherein more than 500 people marked their presence. The Covid-related protocols comprising use of masks, sanitizers and social distancing norms were seen flouted on this occasion.

The FIR was registered by Alephata police station for violating SOPs under Indian Penal Code sections 188 for disobedience to an order, 269 for an act likely to spread an infection and 34 for common intention against the owner, Sunil Ramdas Bade.

Further investigation is being carried out by Police Inspector Madhukar Pawar of Alefata police station.

Pune administration has extended the night curfew in the city till March 14. Schools will also be shut down till March 14. The essential services are exempted from the curfew. The chief minister directed the municipalities in the state to spray disinfectant at public places regularly.

All political, social and religious gatherings have been banned in the state amid rising number of coronavirus cases.