A day after SAD MLA Bikram Singh Majithia put a show of strength on reaching Amritsar for the first time after getting interim anticipatory bail in the high-profile NDPS case, an FIR (first information report) has been registered against the Akali leader under the Disaster Management and Epidemic Act for violating COVID norms.
Majithia was booked under section 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for violating orders promulgated by public servant, section 51 of Disaster Management Act, and section 3 of Epidemic Disease Act following a complaint by Manjit Kumar, in-charge flying squad team.
Notably, a number of Majithia’s supporters had welcomed him at Amritsar’s Golden Gate on his return to Amritsar after getting bail in the drug case.
The officer said that he, along with police, was supervising in Amritsar East when he received information from Election Cell about poll and COVID violation in the Golden Gate area. When he reached the Golden Gate, Kumar found heavy rush at the gate which had gathered to receive former minister Majithia, who came from Jalandhar side in an open jeep.
“Over 200 workers of the party were there, and they were not wearing masks. By gathering there, they violated the COVID norms,” said the officer.
The official release stated that violating the COVID norms, Majithia was received by hundreds of SAD supporters at an entry point of Amritsar city on Saturday. SAD supporters were seen honouring the former minister with garlands and “siropas" and these activities were captured on camera, it added.
Majithia and his supporters violated all the COVID-related norms as well as the restrictions imposed by the Election Commission, the release said. Following the registration of the FIR, police will initiate action in accordance with law, it added.
Majithia (46), who was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act last month, was recently granted anticipatory bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He had moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail after a Mohali court dismissed his pre-arrest bail plea on December 24.
Amid a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, the EC on Saturday extended its ban on physical rallies and roadshows until January 22 in five poll-bound states, including Punjab, saying that it will subsequently review the situation and issue fresh instructions.