Vadodara: Panchmahal police on Sunday detained BJP leader Chelubhai Rathwa for violating Covid guidelines after hundreds gathered at his son’s pre-wedding DJ party. Only after videos of the extravaganza organized in Jhoj village of Ghoghamba taluka on Saturday night went viral on social media did cops wake up to the violation and started taking action. Rathwa is the president of Ghoghamba taluka panchayat.
Fifty-seven persons have died and over 5,270 infected by Covid-19 in Panchmahals district till date.
Such was the level of cops’ ignorance that a group of youngsters, who were dancing on the road in Jhoj village as a part of the pre-wedding celebration even did not raise curiosity of the men in khaki who passed by them in a police jeep.
Meanwhile, Harpalsinh Rathod, DySP, Halol, has been asked to inquire into the incident and submit a report to the Panchmahal SP within two days.
Police said Rathwa’s son Anil was scheduled to get married on Sunday. “They had organized a dance party on Saturday night in which the huge crowd had gathered. People were seen flouting social distancing norms brazenly while dancing to the DJ tunes as seen in the viral video on Sunday,” Rathod told TOI, adding that cops immediately filed an FIR against Rathwa, his son and eight others including the DJ system owner and caterer at Rajgadh police station. He and seven others were detained on Sunday. They will be arrested if their Covid test.
“We don’t know if Rathwa was able to attend his son’s wedding. He was detained on Sunday by 12.30 pm,” Rathod added.
Only 50 persons can be allowed in weddings according to government guidelines.