The city police have warned citizens that stern action will be taken against those who do not follow the rules, especially the time-based restrictions on several businesses. In a letter addressed to all police stations, Vishwas Nangre-Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), even alerted the police force that the personnel caught aiding the violators will not be spared.
In a letter dated July 9, Nangre-Patil said that it has come to light after a video shared by Sandeep Deshpande of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) highlighted a nexus of rate cards being used to keep the shops open after 4pm. According to the relations mentioned in the latest 'Break The Chain' order, shops have been instructed to put their shutters down after 4pm, but in a few instances, Deshpande claimed, that policemen are charging money from shopkeepers, allowing them to keep the shops open despite a time limit being placed.
Police have warned the citizens to abide by the rules, failing which strict action will be initiated against the violators. Nangre-Patil also requested the citizens to ensure that neither they nor anyone else in their business engages in such malpractices, which are in clear violation of the COVID-19 guidelines.
Moreover, police also claimed that if any personnel is caught in such a practice, he/she too will be heavily punished.
