With the Lok Sabha elections already kick-started and with Mumbai to go on polls on April 29, the candidates in the city have intensified their campaigns. Mumbai police recently had banned the use of drones in the city, but one drone was used during the campaign rally of BJP candidate for North-East constituency, Manoj Kotak.
According to Mid-Day, the drone was used on April 8 during a rally of BJP’s Manoj Kotak. The alleged breach of rule happened even though cops were present at the spot. But the police have said that they have taken cognizance of the matter and would soon issue a show-cause notice to Kotak and the other officials involved. A police officer told the leading daily, “We are trying to find out whether they had the required permission for using the drone. If yes, then they will have to produce the papers.”
The incident happened during a rally on April 8, where BJP candidate for North-East constituency, Manoj Kotak, had taken out a huge rally from Ambaji Dham, MG Road to the office of the regional returning officer at Mulund West when a drone was spotted following his jeep. BJP Mumbai Secretary Vivekanand Gupta told the Mid-Day, “The drone was used strictly for photography purpose, and it was flying at a height of 15 feet from the ground. As per the rules, permission is not required for flying drones at a maximum height of 50 feet. Also, the route for which it was used did not have any important installation.”
The cops have written to the returning officer to check whether the drone is seen in the video footages captured by them. Akhilesh Kumar Singh, DCP (Zone 3) told the leading daily, “If permission was not taken for it then we will initiate action against the violators.”
