Pune: A beauty parlour operator in Kalyani Nagar, was booked by Pune city crime branch on Thursday, for secretly operating her parlour during the tenure of the lockdown. The operator was letting the clients into the parlour from the rear gate.  

During the interrogating, the operator confessed to the police that she has begun contacting her clients over What’s App and had given them appointments through that. 

Inspector Anjum Bagwan, in charge of the case, mentioned that the district administration had not yet permitted for the operation of these services. Currently, the salon operator has been booked under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code, National Disaster Management Act and COVID-19 rules. 

Though the central government in Unlock 1 has provided certain guidelines, the government of Maharashtra has formulated specific guidelines for the state. Cities like Mumbai and Pune have consistently recorded high number of COVID-19 positive cases, and have been directed to continue the lockdown till June 30. 

Under the phased out opening of the state – Mission Begin Again, the cities have been allowed some relaxations in the rules of the lockdown, but services such as salon, beauty parlours have not been directed to become functional yet. 

Currently, offices are allowed to function with 10% staff and shops, other than essentials, have been permitted to open on alternate days. People are allowed to venture out of their homes for exercise. Printing and door-to-door distribution of newspaper have also been permitted. 

On June 8, the State government is expected to release the next set of amendments to guidelines for the lockdown 5.