Ahmedabad: Couple gets notice for false distress call

AHMEDABAD: The district administration has issued a notice to a senior citizen

couple

residing in Satellite area of the city for making a false claim to obtain assistance during the lockdown. The couple made a call to the collectorate control room and claimed they had no food to eat. When staff reached their home, they discovered that their home was stocked with adequate essential items and that the couple lives in a flat worth around Rs 1 crore which they own.

The collectorate control room received a distress call on April 17 from

Dipak Shah

and his wife Kiran Shah, stating that they had nothing to eat. The Vejalpur mamlatdar office was alerted and asked to provide food packets and ration kit to the couple. When staff reached the house, they found that the kitchen had adequate stocks of pulses, rations and other items.

Besides, the couple had availed of free foodgrain kits for APL card holder, just a couple of days before making the call. Kiran is a retired teacher, district administration officials said.

Deputy collector (west) J B Desai said that the couple has been issued a notice, which they have to reply to in 24 hours. If they fail to provide a satisfactory reply, they will be booked under Section 52 of the

Disaster

Management Act and may face a two year jail term.