New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday registered an FIR against Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor, who had attended several gatherings in Lucknow and tested positive for coronavirus, for negligence and disobedience to the order issued by a public servant.
Police Commissioner Surjit Pandey said the FIR was registered against at Sarojini Nagar police station.
"An FIR was lodged at the Sarojini Nagar police station under IPC Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant)," he said.
The FIR was lodged on the complaint of the Lucknow chief medical officer. Two more FIRs are likely to be filed against Kapoor at the Hazratganj and Gomtinagar police stations as she had visited at least three gatherings in the areas faaling under their jurisdiction.
The government in an advisory had asked travellers to undergo mandatory screening at all airports, which Kapoor allegedly skipped.
The singer's announcement, that she has tested positive for COVID-19, set off a chain reaction, with political leaders like Vasundhara Raje, her MP son Dushyant Singh and parliamentarians Derek O'Brien and Anupriya Patel, who came in contact with her directly or indirectly, going into self-quarantine as a precautionary measure.
The case has been filed against Kapoor under Section 269 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which punishes whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life.
Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash also ordered closure of Taj Mahal hotel in the state capital till further orders. Though the official order gave no reason, sources said Kanika had attended a party at the hotel.
According to Kanika's father Rajiv Kapoor, she attended a few parties between March 13 and 15. Nearly 300 people attended these parties.
The "Baby Doll" singer, who became the first Bollywood celebrity to test positive for coronavirus, landed in Lucknow from the United Kingdom and was admitted to a city hospital after she showed signs of flu, reports said.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Kanika said she developed signs of flu only in the last four days.
"I got myself tested and it came positive for Covid-19. My family and I are in complete quarantine now and following medical advice on how to move forward. Contact mapping of people I have been in touch with is underway as well," she said.
"I was scanned at the airport as per normal procedure 10 days ago when I came back home, the symptoms have developed only four days ago," Kanika said in her statement.
The 41-year-old singer urged people to practice self-isolation and get tested if one has the signs.
"I am feeling ok, like a normal flu and a mild fever, however we need to be sensible citizens at this time and think of all around us. We can get through this without panic only if we listen to the experts and our local, state and central government directives. Wishing everyone good health," she added.
Rajiv said his daughter is in isolation at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow.
"She came to Lucknow on March 11 after spending a day in Mumbai. She was normal when she arrived. In the past two days she had fever and cough and we, as a precaution, got her tested. Today morning we came to know that she is low density positive," Rajiv, who along with four others is in self-isolation at his Lucknow residence, said.
When asked, he said Kanika had attended three parties on March 13, 14 and 15.
"They were small parties. In all 250-300 persons had attended all three parties," he said, adding him and the other family members will undergo testing later. He denied reports that Kanika dodged airport authorities and said she had cleared screening in Mumbai.
The singer is among four fresh cases found in Lucknow, official sources here said.
A total of 223 coronavirus cases have been reported in the country so far and more than 6,700 people who have come in contact with them are under surveillance, according to the Union Health Ministry.
(With inputs from PTI)
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