Madhya Pradesh by-polls: Police file FIR against Kamal Nath, 8 others for violating COVID-19 rules

Bhopal, Oct 07: Madhya Pradesh Police has filed an FIR against former State Chief Minister Kamal Nath and eight others for violating coronavirus protocols during a public meeting in the state.

According to reports, the FIR has been registered under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and Disaster Management Act.

The FIR was lodged on Tuesday at Bhander police station in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh. The FIR named Kamal Nath and eight others, based on a written complaint filed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Arvind Mahor a day earlier.

A copy of the FIR said that district Congress chief Nahar Singh Yadav had earlier sought permission to hold a meeting at Mandi premises in Bhander on October 5. The permission was granted for a gathering of not more than 100 people while maintaining all COVID-19 protocols.

However, the FIR went on to say that footage from the poll meeting made it clear that the protocols were grossly violated.

In the FIR copy it was mentioned that "it was evident that 2,000-2,500 persons were present as against permission of 100 persons allowed". The FIR added that it was in violation of COVID-19 safety guidelines and Section 144 of the CrPC.

It can be seen that the FIR comes ahead of the bypolls for 28 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh. Voting will take place on November 3 and the results will be declared on November 10.

The by-polls for the seats will be held as they were vacant following the resignations of 24 Congress MLAs and the death of two legislators earlier. In March, 22 Congress MLAs resigned from the state assembly and made way for BJP's Shivraj Singh Chouhan to take over as chief minister.