As many as 14 people, including a bride and a groom, have been arrested for gathering in a temple for a wedding amid the lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak, police in Gujarat said.
"Upon receiving information about a group of people gathering in a temple, the Navsari police personnel conducted a raid. There the police found 14 people participating in a wedding," said Navsari Superintendent of Police Girish Pandya on Friday.
He further said that legal action has been taken against the people for violating lockdown norms.
The nationwide lockdown, which was first announced on March 24, was extended to May 3 to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, just a couple of days ago, the wedding of Karnataka's former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Gowda with Revathi sparked? a huge controversy. The ceremony was attended by close to 100 guests amid lockdown at a farmhouse.
Taking objection to non-observance of social distancing by the attendees who didn't wear face masks, Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan told reporters that he had asked the district's Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to inquire into the charge that lockdown guidelines were violated.
"Permission was given for the wedding but with guidelines to maintain social distancing and wearing of face masks by all those attending the ceremony. If there is a violation, action will be taken," Narayan said.
However, amid charges and counter-charges between ruling BJP and the opposition Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), police denied lockdown violations at the wedding of the former chief minister's son.
"Lockdown norms were followed and about 100 people, including family members and close relatives of Kumaraswamy were allowed to attend the wedding at the farmhouse earlier in the day," Bidadi police sub-inspector C. Bhaskar told IANS over phone.
The lavish wedding during the coronavirus lockdown, which had priests, family and close relatives, has drawn massive criticism.