Delhi: Mehrauli restaurant sealed for Covid norm violations

NEW DELHI: A popular restaurant in Mehrauli was sealed on Thursday by the South district authorities and Delhi Police for allegedly violating orders of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
With enforcement drives being intensified following directions from DDMA to district magistrates, a flying squad of enforcement officials, along with a Delhi Police team, visited the restaurant for a surprise inspection and found 600 people gathered there at 10.45pm on Thursday.
According to an official, an event was organised there in violation of DDMA guidelines. The crowd at the restaurant was dispersed and the premises were sealed. The raid was conducted after police got information about the large gathering.
Additional DCP (South) M Harsha Vardhan said they registered an FIR under IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) against Diablo restaurant at Mehrauli police station.
Another officer said they had already informed owners of restaurants and clubs about the DDMA guidelines and told them to avoid such gatherings.
With Delhi witnessing a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases, DDMA had on Wednesday issued stern directions to DMs to curb the spread of the virus.
All DMs and DCPs had been asked to tighten enforcement and deploy a sufficient number of teams at public places, especially considering Christmas and New Year’s festivities.