COVID-19: Son calls police as father violates lockdown

New Delhi: Delhi Police have registered a total of 33 cases against those found violating home quarantine rules in the national capital. In one such case, an exasperated son found a way to ensure that his father does not step out during the COVID-19 lockdown by calling the police.

Abhishek (30), who works as an assistant manager in an automobile shop, was worried that his father, Virender Singh(59) always steps out of their house in the morning and roam around the city streets.

When repeated appeals fell on deaf ears, Abhishek on April 1 decided to call the police. In the presence of policemen, Abhishek once again asked his father to stay indoors but Virender was in no mood to oblige. The policemen too requested him to go inside and explained risks of the pandemic.

Refusing to oblige, the police decided to record Abhishek’s statement. “My father is not following the lockdown norms and that he goes out of their rented accommodation regularly. Even when he is not asked to go, he does not listen. Take legal action against him.” The father now may end up spending some time in jail as police have now registered a case on his son Abhishek’s complaint.

Police have now invoked Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. Under this, a jail term of up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 1,000 or both for disobeying an order promulgated by a public servant is prescribed.
While imposing the lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had issued directions to states to take action against those people who violate the containment measures under Sections 51 to 60 of
the Disaster Management Act 2005 and Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code