NASHIK: A case has been registered against former Shiv Sena MLA Anil Kadam and eight others for conducting a bullock cart race at Ojhar on December 25 without seeking permission from district and police administration. As informed by Ashok Rahate, Ojhar Police Station’s inspector, organisers were booked for violating Supreme Court’s orders.
According to Police Inspector Ashok Rahate, the Supreme Court lifted the ban on the bullock cart race on December 16, 2021, and the state government took a similar decision. However, the court resumed racing based on some preconditions. The organisers need to take permission from District Collector 15 days prior to the race. However, the concerned organisers didn’t seek permission from District Collector Suraj Mandhare before conducting the race at Ojhar.
After the collecter signaled strict action against the organisers, the latter cancelled the race. Also, the state government had released a fresh set of guidelines on Friday night, citing the growing concerns regarding Covid-19’s new variant Omicron. The crowd present at the event on Saturday didn’t adhere to the guidelines and flouted the social distancing rule repeatedly.
All nine people have been charged under violating Supreme Court’s orders, Prevention of Contagious Diseases Act, violation of the Curfew Act, not taking care of animals, not feeding animals properly, and cruelty to animals.
This race was the first bullock cart race organised in the state following the Supreme Court’s nod, permitting the race in Maharashtra. However, Nashik District Collector Suraj Mandhare ordered filing a case against the organizers conducting the race without permission.
Many citizens, including former Shiv Sena MLA Anil Kadam, were present for the race’s inauguration. The Supreme Court has given conditional permission, which requires prior permission.
Even though the Supreme Court approved the race’s resumption, the organisers need to take prior permission from police and district administration. Various organisations inspect various aspects before providing the required permission.
Also, a minor accident occurred at the venue as the one bull got out of control and injured one person. As per sources, once the police left the venue after dispersing the crowd, organisers had resumed racing once again.
