Pune: Kothrud police and Pune Municipal Corporation employees recovered Rs 500 fine from Amarnath Rajurkar, Member of Legislative Assembly of Congress from Nanded, who was caught roaming in the area without wearing a mask. A team of police personnel under the supervision of Police Sub-Inspector Narendra Munde from Erandwane police station took this action.

A fine of Rs 14.60 lakh was recovered in the last three days during the action taken against 280 citizens who did not wear masks. The drive was conducted at locations like Dahanukar Colony underpass in Kothrud, Mohanrao Shiralkar Chowk, Shastri Nagar Police Station Chowk, Kinara Chowk, Karve Putla Chowk, Shivaji Putla Chowk, Paud Phata Chowk and Bhelke Nagar Chowk.

Sandeep Kadam, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of Kothrud Bavdhan Ward Office, Pratibha Joshi, Police Inspector from Kothrud police station and Ram Sonawane, Senior Health Inspector along with Health inspectors Sachin Lohkare, Ganesh Sathe, Pramod Chavan, Vaibhav Ghatkamble, Shivaji Gaikwad, Rupali Shendge, Police Personnel A R Andhare, Vilas Joshi, S S Lokhande, Manoj Pawar, Shravan Shewale, Ganesh Kandhare, Mokadam Vaijnath Gaikwad, Anna Dhavare, Laxman Sonawane, Sainath Telangi, Ashok Kamble and Vijay Patil participated in the drive against violators.

Vaijnath Gaikwad said, "The punitive action taken against the Congress MLA has sent a right message to the citizens. We hope that this will discipline citizens who are stepping out of their homes without wearing masks and wander on the streets for unessential purposes.

Sandeep Kadam, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of Kothrud - Bavdhan Ward Office of PMC said, "The continuous joint action of the police and the PMC will lead to discipline among the citizens. Everyone needs to cooperate to curb the spread of coronavirus. Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the city due to some citizens venturing out of their homes without wearing masks, spitting on the streets and not following social distancing norms."