MP: BJP Yuva Morcha leader fined Rs 10,000 for flouting COVID-19 norms but no case as he expresses 'remorse'

Katni (MP) Jun 14: A Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader from Katni in Madhya Pradesh was made to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 by the local administration for flouting COVID-19 norms after a video showed him celebrating his birthday near a temple in the presence of his supporters and cutting a cake, an official said on Monday.

Authorities also directed supporters of Katni district BJYM president Mridul Dwivedi to remain in home isolation for a week. If they fail to adhere to the directive, appropriate legal action will be taken against them, he added. However, the administration didn't invoke legal action against Dwivedi under the Epidemic Diseases Act, saying he has "expressed remorse and assured of not repeating the act".

Authorities swung into action after a video purportedly showed Dwivedi cutting the cake in the presence of his supporters who were seen without wearing masks. They celebrated Dwivedi's birthday near the Hanuman temple at Kataye Ghat area in Katni on Saturday with fireworks in brazen violation of norms. Kati city tehsildar Sandeep Shrivastava told PTI over the phone that the permission was not taken for the birthday bash.

"The fine recovered from Dwivedi has been transferred to Red Cross Society for a social good," he said, adding that the action was taken against Dwivedi under section 144 of the CrPC. Queried why a case was not registered against the BJYM leader under the charge of spreading dangerous diseases as per the law, Shrivastava said Dwivedi had accepted his mistake and expressed remorse.

"He assured us that he and his supporters won't repeat the act," the tehsildar said. Katni reported one death due to coronavirus but no fresh case was reported on Sunday. The district reported 9,359 COVID-19 cases and 110 deaths so far, according to the district administration.