Non-bailable offense registered, former minister booked, police men suspended: Gujarat govt to High Court on Tapi breach

December 02, 2020

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court today brought the issue of gross violation of covid protocols in Tapi district of South Gujarat to the notice of the government. In response to this, the State government conveyed to the court that it has invoked non bailable section in FIR and former Minister of State, who was host of the function has also been made accused. The government also conveyed the High Court about suspension of police staffers.

Government pleader Manisha Lavkumar Shah on behalf of State government told the bench headed by the Chief Justice today afternoon:’ We have invoked 308, which is non-bailable, we have also referred to the accused as a former minister and the police authority have been suspended. We have taken very prompt action. These are matters that are being taken very seriously by the State authorities.’

Earlier, in the morning the bench opined that Tapi incident was shocking shocking. Whatever damage was to be done was done. How many people were there at that venue? And the man (host former MoS Kanti Gamit) has audacity to say that he had had invited only 2,000 people and he didn’t know why these many people turned up all of suddenly there! What was Superintendent of Police (SP) was doing at that point of time? He must be also present at that venue? How did he permit that host to continue with that function? All the hard work which these special teams formulated by the government was put in vein. Isn’t the police department, right from the rank of SP to ordinary cop not answerable for this event?

The bench had also inquired that under which offence, FIR was filed in this matter, to which the government had replied that it was filed for breach of notification, breach of social distancing and all that. The government had also agreed with observation of the High Court and said This is tribal belt and they may have their customary traditions or whatever, but this is absolutely impermissible.

It’s worth noting that amid the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of people had participated in a function organised by former minister of state (in then Anandiben Patel led government) Kanti Gamit on occasion of his granddaughter’s engagement ceremony at his native village near Songadh town of Tapi district in tribal belt of South Gujarat. The state government has put strict restrictions on wedding events wherein only 100 guests are allowed to attend.

As video clip of the event went viral and media picked up the matter, Kanti Gamit who is also a director of Sumul dair said, ‘We organise a ceremony every year on occasion of Tulsi Vivah in our village. So, on Monday, we had organised Tulsi Vivah alongside an engagement ceremony for my granddaughter. We did not send any invitation to people but we had put up a message on whatsapp and people turned up. Since it was also an engagement ceremony for our granddaughter, we had organised dinner for around 2,000 guests. We did not expect that so many people would turn up. The dinner was followed by a dance programme in which so many people turned up and danced. I apologise for the mass gathering.’

Tapi police had called Gamit for questioning after a video clip of his function went viral.

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Surat: According to Range Inspector General (IG), Kantibhai Gamit, his son and 16 others are arrested today. Section 308 IPC added is for attempt to culpable homicide. Inspector CK Chaudhary and beat Jamadar are suspended. SP has been asked for intensive patrolling to prevent such events. SP Surat Usha Rada has been assigned inquiry into this. She will submit a report in a week.

DeshGujarat

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