Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina was arrested from a Mumbai club in the early hours on Tuesday for violating COVID-19 norms. The Mumbai Dragonfly club near the city airport was kept open beyond the permissible time limit, and the cricketer was among the 34 people, including seven staff members, booked by the Mumbai Police.
Reports said singer Guru Randhawa was also among those arrested. Raina and Randhawa have been released on bail.
Police stated that 34 people were booked under Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC and provisions of NMDA.
“An offence has been registered u/s 188, 269, 34 IPC and u/s 51 NDMA against 34 persons at Sahar police station after raid was conducted at 2.50 AM at Dragonfly pub, for keeping establishment open beyond permissible time limit, not following Covid norms such as social distancing, not wearing face mask,” Mumbai Police said in a statement.
Maharashtra government on Monday had declared a night curfew in municipal corporation areas amid concerns over the new variant of the coronavirus found in the UK. Restrictions on flights from Britain are already in place in view of the development.
The restrictions in the state will be in place from December 22 to January 5 as public activity is expected to spike during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, thereby increasing the COVID-19 caseload.
Meanwhile, Suresh Raina is expected to represent Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy which will begin on January 10. The 34-year-old had announced his retirement from international cricket in August, and has not played competitive cricket in the past year. He missed the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League, staged in the UAE due to the pandemic, citing personal reasons. The cricketer recently attended a camp in the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, where he was seen training with other UP players.
