COVID lockdown violation: Karnataka MLA spared for conducting grand 'havan', supporters booked

In the latest development into flouting of Covid-19 protocols and lockdown norms in Karnataka, BJP MLA Abhay Patil from Belagavi South was spared while four of his supporters were booked under the Karnataka Epidemic Control Act and NDMA Act.

Following the widespread publicity into the grand 'havan' by the MLA and his supporters in Shahpura limits, on May 24, dozens of people gathered as the BJP leader performed havan and also justified his action saying 'the smoke from havan will kill the virus present in air and purify the atmosphere'.

Based on the video evidence and media reports, the Junior Health Inspector attached to Belagavi Municipal Corporation filed a complaint of violation of lockdown rules and Covid protocols in his jurisdiction, following which Shahpura Police registered cases against MLA's supporters, but spared the MLA.

On May 24, Abhay Patil took the initiative of setting up a fire using cow dung cake, camphor, tulasi leaves and sambrani. The iron container with these items emitting smoke was placed in a pushcart and was paraded in different streets to kill coronavirus.

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