Police bust secret garba party at Bhayandar West

There were 350-400 people partying at GCS Banquet Hall. Pic/Hanif Patel

After the authorities banned garba this Navratri owing to COVID-19, a group of people used social media to connect and secretly organise an event in Bhayandar. However, police busted their party and booked the hall owner and organiser.

Police raided GCS Banquet Hall at 90 Feet Road in Bhayandar West on Saturday night and found 350-400 guests, said Senior Inspector Mukutrao Patil of Bhayandar police station. They booked hall owner Yash Ranjeet Chajad, 18, and garba organiser Hasmukh Thanji Parihar, 34, for violations of COVID-19 safety rules. Both Chajad and Parihar, residents of Bhayandar West, were arrested and later released on bail.

Constable Sharad Sopan Suryavanshi told mid-day, "I was on duty on Saturday evening and while visiting banquets halls, I stumbled upon GCS. I heard loud music and saw lights. I went inside and saw hundreds of people playing garba. I immediately informed my team and a case was registered at Bhayandar police station."

Invitations were sent via social media platforms and WhatsApp, Patil said. The organiser advertised the event on social media and charged guests who were aged between 15 and 30 years, he added. "We didn't take any action against the guests," Patil added.

Patil said the hall had also been organising weddings without "any licence and permission".