Birthday bash: Masks down, shirts off, on-duty cops party at Lokhandwala in Mumbai

Birthday boy Mahesh Bhingawde (in full uniform) seen dancing during the celebrations at Lokhandwala Back Road on Wednesday

The government's directive to strictly adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols in view of the grim situation in the state seems to have not reached a group of law enforcers in the city.

Cops chop vegetables for the birthday meal

Nearly two dozen on-duty policemen from the Oshiwara police station celebrated the birthday of one of their colleagues Mahesh Bhingawde on Wednesday, with complete disregard for mandatory mask and physical distancing rules.

Bhingawde is a police naik and the operator, an officer who receives vital information and forward it to his boss, of Senior Inspector Sanjay Bendale of Oshiwara police station.

The policemen, without masks and some even without shirts, had gathered for a picnic-party at Lokhandwala Back Road. They used a police van to bring raw cooking materials, utensils, drinking water, gas stoves, etc, to cook on the spot. An empty liquor bottle and two disposable glasses of alcohol were also spotted at the venue.

Bhingawde, who was in full uniform and was carrying a walkie talkie in his shirt pocket, admitted to having celebrated with his colleagues at Lokhandwala Back Road. "I was called by my colleagues to cut the cake. I did not eat anything there as I had brought my own meal," he told mid-day.

When mid-day asked how so many policemen were partying together especially when gathering of more than five people is prohibited, SI Bendale asked, "Who told you that it is his [Bhingawde] birthday and men from this police station attended the party? Who is giving you the internal information of this police station?"

On a question about appropriate action against them, Bendale said, "I will have to check what exactly happened. I am not aware that they had a party today."

Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhishek Trimukhe said, "I have come to know about this party from you. I will check and get back to you."

Not wearing a mask in public places attracts a fine, and Mumbai police and the civic body have been penalising hundreds of people for the violation.