3 banquet halls booked for flouting Covid protocols

Continuing with its crackdown the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) registered a First Information Report (FIR) against three marriage halls for flouting COVID-19 protocols on Friday night.

The action was taken by civic officials of the H East (HE) ward office under whose jurisdiction the areas - Santacruz East, Vakola, Bandra East, and Bandra Kurla Complex falls. Civic officials stated, they have acted upon receiving a tip-off and during the raid, they found out there were more than 200 guests in each venue and most of them were seen roaming without masks. Civic officials lodged FIRs against - Yashodan Hall, Noor Marriage Hall, and Guru Nanak marriage halls were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 188 (Disobeying order of public servant), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection), and 34 (Common Intention) amongst other charges. Civic officials stated, all three halls are situated near CST Road, Kurla, and are located in close proximity. "Most of the guests didn't have a mask on their faces, those who were wearing one, had it below their chin also the guests moved around without following distancing protocols," said a senior civic official.

Af ter the cases started to surge, BMC had intensified its raids since last week. Officials stated, the BMC has kept a vigilant eye on open spaces, eateries, and banquet halls. Last weekend, the BMC had conducted similar raids in Andheri, Bandra, Khar and Chembur conducted, following which FIRs were registered.