Mumbai: City police have registered 82 FIRs and issued notices to 110 people for allegedly bursting firecrackers on public roads and other places between Nov 5 and 11 during Diwali , violating civic and court orders. Those booked included real estate developers, businesspersons, doctors, salaried individuals, chemists, labourers, students, drivers and the elderly.
An order issued by Bombay High Court in Sept and implemented by Mumbai police and BMC prohibits firecrackers, fireworks, rockets, laser lights, high-intensity lumen lights and beams on public roads, pathways and other public places from Oct 6 to Dec 4. DCP (operations) Akbar Pathan said BMC and Mumbai Disaster Management Authority had separately banned rockets and aerial firecrackers across Mumbai from Nov 9 to Nov 25. Azad Maidan police registered an FIR on Nov 9 against driver Avinash Saha (34), who allegedly launched three rockets on Bomanji Master Lane in Kalbadevi between 1.25 am and 1.30 am. Bandra police booked Pushkaraj Singh (24) on Nov 10 after he allegedly resumed bursting firecrackers on BJ Road, Bandstand, around 11 pm on Nov 9 despite two warnings. Malabar Hill police registered an FIR against chemist Jitendra Ramparag Yadav (25) on Nov 8 for allegedly bursting firecrackers on Ashanagar Outer Road, opposite PDP Garden, around 8.45 pm. Powai police booked student Shreyas Ramdas Kirkar (19) on Nov 9 after he was allegedly found bursting a sky-shot firework outside MTNL Building around 9.40 pm.
Police said all four Bandra cases were registered after the accused ignored two warnings. Another Mumbai police commissionerate order under the Maharashtra Police Act prohibits processions, loudspeakers, amplifying instruments, musical bands and aerial firecrackers in processions. Police alleged that rockets struck passing vehicles and a building wall.