Club management, event host booked for violating Covid-19 norms

Aman Sood

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Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 19

A day after a report on a private function held at Rajindra Gymkhana and Mahendra Club (Maharani Club) was published in these columns, the police have registered a FIR against the host, guests and the club management for violating the Covid-19 guidelines.

Following a preliminary probe, an FIR under Sections 269, 270, 271 and 188 of the IPC and Section 51, Disaster Management Act, and Section 3 of the Epidemic Act 2020 was registered at the Lahori Gate police station against host Bhupinder Singh of Hira Bagh and others.

The police said the case was registered after a video went viral and news flashed in the print media.

Prima facie, it was found that Bhupinder Singh had organised a function at Rajindra Gymkhana and Mahendra Club in which the Covid guidelines issued by the district administration were flouted, said Vikramjeet Duggal, SSP, Patiala.

Last week, over 20 persons at the club were tested Covid positive, the police added. Ideally, such an event should not have been organised against the government norms, the police said. “We will find out how many more such functions were held during the lockdown and add them to the case,” said a senior police official.

According to the information, a member of the club had booked two rooms claiming that he would invite around 30 guests. However, a video of the function showed that not only couple dance was organised but the elderly and children also attended the function without wearing a mask.

The Patiala SSP had marked an inquiry into the incident to the SP (City), Varun Sharma, following which the case was registered.