Groom’s family fined Rs 6.26 lakh for violating COVID-19 norms during wedding ceremony

Yash Goyal
Jaipur, June 28 

The government of Rajasthan has slapped a fine of Rs 6,26,600 on a groom’s father for flouting COVID-19 norms to organise a wedding in Bhilwara recently, where 15 people contracted coronavirus and the groom’s grandfather died of the deadly disease.

The government said the man violated various acts, including the Rajasthan Epidemic Disease Act, while organising the event on June 13.

The accused has been asked to pay the fine in three days. 

Out of 250 invitees, 15 people who attended the wedding, tested positive and 58 others have been quarantined since the wedding day, Bhilwara Collector Rajendra Bhatt told The Tribune. The invitees flouted norms like wearing a face mask, social distancing, cleanliness and sanitization procedures, he added.

An FIR was lodged under the Rajasthan Epidemic Disease Act, 1957 and National Disaster Management Act against the groom’s father Gheesulal Rathi with the Bheem Ganj police station on Saturday, Bhatt said.  

The fine was imposed for causing a revenue loss to the state exchequer for creating an isolation ward, a facility at a quarantine centre, food, sample tests, transportation and ambulance services, the Collector said.

The man had sought permission for 50 guests to solemnise his son’s wedding at Bhadada Mohalla in Bhilwara on June 13, but 250 guests attended the event. 

The district medical and police teams have started containment measures and investigation, an IO said.