5 booked for violation of sound norms in Kolhapur

Kolhapur: The city police on Sunday booked five members of a Ganesh Mandal for violating sound norms during Shiv Jayanti Utsav procession.The police had held meetings and issued notices under BNSS 168, instructing all the mandals to refrain from playing loud music late at night. However, disregarding this, on April 18, Venus Corner Mitra Mandal set up a sound system late at night, gathered youths and circulated messages about it on social media.The office-bearers who have been booked are Prathamesh Nalwade, Sanket Sankpal , Yash Gaikwad , Nikhil Chavan and Sarthak Amte. Charges against them include creating obstacles to public traffic by playing high decibel music, endangering and instilling fear in people passing by.Shahupuri police station has registered the crime under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections (BNSS) 223 and 126 (2), along with section 38 of the Maharashtra Police Act."The sound system used by the mandal has also been seized. Strict action will be taken in future if the mandal uses sound systems late at night in similar manner," said Santosh Doke, inspector of Shahupuri police station, said.