Hinjewadi police register FIR against COVID positive woman who travelled to Dubai

Pune, 21 July 2020: An FIR has been registered against the 30-year-old woman, who is Coronavirus Disease (COVID19) positive patient, for allegedly travelling to Sharjah in United Arab Emirate (UAE). Pimpri-Chinchwad police are further investigating the case. She had fled on July 17 (Friday).

Based on a complaint from the medical officer of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) whom she had sent a message of being in Dubai, an FIR has been registered with Hinjawadi police station. She has been booked for an offence under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of Epidemic Diseases Act.

According to police, the woman has bought a flat in Vision Indramegh society located in Punawale. She had come here for some work related to the registration of the flat in March. However, she got stranded here due to lockdown in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic. On July 11, she tested positive for COVID19 at Aditya Birla Hospital. Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) had got her report on July 12.

Police said that the doctor had asked the woman to be isolated at home as she had mild symptoms. PCMC officials had visited the society as per home isolation guidelines and asked the society to provide her essential services. The society with 152 flats was ‘sealed’. However, she flew to Dubai on July 17. Later she sent a message to society members and the doctor who was in contact with her that she has reached Sharjah. “The report came negative after COVID19 test at Dubai international airport”, she stated in her message.

Society chairman Ashish Biradar said that on July 17 around 10 pm she left under the pretext of going to a medical store. She entered the wrong information in the register kept with the security guard at the gate.

Now cops are investigating how she travelled to UAE via a special international flight.