Pune: Rural police busted a private party hosted by doctors at a resort in Talegaon Dhamdhere near Shikrapur, nearly 40 kilometres from Pune city. Eleven doctors have been booked by Shikrapur police on charges of violating the lockdown norms.
According to police, all the doctors who were caught partying carry out private practices in and around Pune city. Along with the doctors, two managers at the resort have also been booked by police. No arrests have been made in this case. Shikrapur police said the doctors and managers will be chargesheeted and the court proceedings will be initiated.
The incident took place at Aroha Srushti Agritourism Resort on Sunday night which is located at Talegaon Dhamdhere. While Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad cities and the rural parts of Pune district are under strict lockdown for 10 days, local villagers were surprised over this police action. Villagers from other parts of the district have also noticed activities in several farm houses and resorts in their area. Especially senior political leaders and professionals have chosen to stay at their farm houses during the lockdown period, while they connect with their constituents and clients over video conferencing.
Police Inspector Sadashiv Shelar of Shikrapur station said, "We received an anonymous tip-off about a gathering of people inside a resort. As per lockdown norms, all resorts are supposed to remain shut. So we took serious cognizance of the information and rushed to the mentioned location. When our staff reached there a party was going on. When we enquired about it, we were told that the party was hosted by a doctor."
Primary investigations revealed that the party was on the occasion of the birthday of a doctor. All doctors who were present at the resort have private practice in and around Pune city. They have been booked under section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code and section 11 (committing a punishable offence under IPC) of Maharashtra Covid-19 Regulations and section 2, 3 and 4 (disobeying any regulation or order) of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897. A charge sheet has been filed against the suspects and it will be sent to the court, PI Shelar said. PSI Rajesh Mali of Shikrapur Police Station is probing the case.