New Delhi:
One day when restaurants reopened in the city after more than two months following the locking of COVID-19, police arrested four people for allegedly violating social distancing standards by hosting a birthday party in a restaurant from Rajouri Garden in west Delhi, officials said. Tuesday.
Police said 38 people attended the party on Monday which was organized in violation of government standards during the COVID-19 pandemic and also for failing to maintain social distance.
Following orders from the Center, the Delhi government has decided to open restaurants, malls and places of worship from Monday.
According to the specific directives issued by the Center concerning the opening of these places, they must strictly respect the maintenance of social distance, wear masks and restaurants have been invited to encourage take-out dishes instead of dinner. In case of dinner, only 50% occupancy will be allowed.
Police said a team of police officers patrolling the area on Monday noticed movement near the Qubitos restaurant on the road to Najafgarh. Around 9 p.m., when they carried out a surprise check at the restaurant, they noticed that a birthday party was organized with 38 people where hukka was also served.
During the investigation, those who attended the party told the police that they had come to the scene believing that the restaurant owner and the party organizer would observe social distancing and take the necessary precautions, said a senior police officer.
The officer added that as a rule, only 50% occupancy can be allowed in a restaurant for dinner. The restaurant, which has dinner capacity for 48 people, has exceeded the limit and made room for 38 people and has also violated standards of social distancing.
The restaurant owner identified as Akshay Chhadha (37), manager Manoj Kapoor (29), party organizer Manaan Majid (27) and Mohd Asif who celebrated his 25th birthday at the restaurant were among the four who were held accountable for not following government standards and violating social distance in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, police said.
Police deputy commissioner (west) Deepak Purohit said the four accused were arrested and released on bail.
One case was registered under the relevant articles of the Indian Penal Code and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, he added.
