Big News: Maharashtra Government To Withdraw Cases Registered For Lockdown Violations

Mubarak Ansari

Pune, January 20, 2021: FIRs were registered against people under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against those who violated the rules of curfew during the lockdown due to Corona pandemic. Lakhs of cases were registered across Maharashtra. Police have also started filling chargesheets in the court. But now the state government has decided to withdraw such cases.

State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has announced that the state government will take back these cases. “The State Government will withdraw the offences filed under IPC Section 188 against violators amidst Covid19 following judicial norms”, Deshmukh tweeted.

The State Government will withdraw the offenses filed under IPC Section 188 against violators amidst Covid19 following judicial norms.

— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) January 20, 2021

In the city of Pune, between March and December 2020, the city police had registered 28,304 cases against people who had violated lockdown norms under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The police had not only booked people for violating lockdown norms and night curfew but they had also taken the details of those who were roaming without masks.

At that time, the police had let them off after taking down valid details like their name, vehicle number and other personal details for future action. However, recently some people received notices asking them to report to their respective police stations for the process of registration of offences under Section 188 of the IPC. As a result, a wave of panic started spreading amongst people that legal action will be initiated against them.

Now the state government’s initiative will bring to such people.